Mother in hospital after sea rescue

on 03/09/2012 19:47:21

A mother is in hospital tonight after being swept out to sea with her two sons.

The woman was said to have been in the water off the north coast of Cornwall this afternoon when the trio, including boys aged 13 and 11, were caught by a rip current and taken out to sea.

A member of the public raised the alarm after one of the boys made it back to shore, at Northcott Mouth, near Bude. The other was rescued by the RNLI's Bude inshore lifeboat.

Martin Bidmead, watch officer at Falmouth coastguard, said the mother was eventually plucked from the water and flown to North Devon District Hospital, Barnstaple.

He was unsure how serious her condition was, but said medics performed CPR before she was taken to hospital.

Lifeguards, coastguards and crew members from RMB Chivenor were called to help with the rescue.

Mr Bidmead said he was unsure whether the woman and her sons were from the local area or were visiting Cornwall.