A TEENAGER and her mother were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia after a boating accident in Watchet marina on Easter Sunday.

The pair, who live in Watchet, spent the night in Musgrove Park Hospital and were released the following morning.

The drama unfolded around 7pm after the mother and her husband were thrown out of a small inflatable boat while manoeuvring in the marina.

Their 17-year-old daughter, who had been watching nearby and was wearing a wetsuit, jumped into the water with a buoyancy aid and a rescue line to try to help.

The line was attached to the boat while the couple, who are both in their late 40s, managed to swim ashore.

However, soon afterwards, the mother complained of neck pain and began to suffer from the effects of both shock and the cold.

Her daughter then collapsed a short time later.

Coastguards and the ambulance service were called and while the mother was taken to hospital by ambulance, the daughter was airlifted by a rescue helicopter from RAF Chivenor.

Watchet Coastguard Simon Bale said: "This was an unfortunate incident where the occupants of the boat were thrown into the water during a turn.

"Had it not been for the correct equipment being worn and on-board, including the correct wearing of a kill cord which cut the engine immediately when they went overboard, this could have been a far more serious incident."