TWO lifeboat crews from Minehead and a Coastguard helicopter from South Wales were involved in a dramatic cliff face rescue of two people at the weekend.

Both Minehead’s Atlantic 85 and D class lifeboats were launched on Saturday evening (August 9) in choppy conditions described as ‘challenging’.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) had received an alert shortly before 4.30 pm after two walkers were cut off by the tide close to Sillery Sands, near Lynmouth.

The volunteer crews endured a long passage to Lynmouth in force five seas, with significant swell from the competing wind and tide.

They completed a shoreline search around the Foreland Point area due to the imprecise information they had received regarding the location of the pair.

Atlantic 85 helmsman Sean Phillips saw the pair had attempted to self-rescue by climbing some way up the perilous cliffs.

He realised a rescue from sea would be impossible and called for help from Coastguard search and rescue helicopter 187, which is based across the Bristol Channel in St Athan, near Barry.

The helicopter crew used the aircraft’s a 300-feet long winch to lift both people safely off the cliff, with the Minehead RNLI lifeboats standing by for safety.

Both lifeboat crews then returned to Minehead in time for a belated evening meal with friends and families.

D class helmsman Jake Sanderson said: “We are pleased that the casualties knew to call HM Coastguard immediately on 999 to summon help, but this rescue illustrates that you should always check tide times to ensure your coastal walk does not end in a coastal calamity.”

“Always check your route and the tide times.

“Make sure you can get back the same way you came in.”

The RNLI, whose volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the UK and Ireland coastlines, operates 238 lifeboat stations.