Dramatic video: party of 36 rescued from rocks in Dover

More than 30 schoolchildren have been rescued by helicopter and lifeboats from a Kent beach after becoming trapped by the rising tide.

The hiking party - which included two adults - were plucked to safety after straying from a coastal path between Dover Harbour and St Margaret's Bay.

The youngsters used mobile phones as distress beacons. Two hours later they would have been swimming for their lives.

In her report Sarah Saunders spoke to Matt Ivatt of the Dover coastguard, Billy Hollis of the Dover RNLI and resident Jean Smith. Video footage and still provided by @kernowsailing and Stuart Brock Photography.

More than 30 schoolchildren have been rescued by helicopter and lifeboats from a Kent beach after becoming trapped by the rising tide. Sarah Saunders reports.

Thirty-four teenagers and two adults were rescued and taken to safety after getting lost during a coastal walk. They were found at a well-known danger spot in Dover after waving mobile phone lights. The disorientated group was at risk from a rising tide.

Maritime and Coastguard Agency video: Thirty four teenagers and two adults were rescued and taken to safety after getting lost during a coastal walk at St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover.

They waved their mobile phones to attract attention.

The coastguard received a request for assistance from the Kent Police at 9.00pm on Monday. The group contacted them to say they were lost somewhere between St Margaret’s Bay and Dover Harbour after getting disorientated on a coastal walk.

The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd, Dover RNLI lifeboat, two Walmer RNLI lifeboats, Langdon Coastguard Rescue Team and the Ambulance service were sent to the area.

The group was located and brought to safety by the lifeboats and the helicopter.

Thirty four teenagers and two adults were rescued last night and taken to safety after getting lost during a coastal walk at St Margaret’s Bay, near Dover.

The coastguard received a request for assistance from the Kent Police at 9.00pm after the group contacted them to say they were lost somewhere between St Margaret’s Bay and Dover Harbour after getting disorientated on a coastal walk.

The UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd, Dover RNLI lifeboat, two Walmer RNLI lifeboats, Langdon Coastguard Rescue Team and the Ambulance service were sent to the area.

The group was located and brought to safety by the lifeboats and the helicopter.

UK Coastguard Senior Maritime Operations Officer Richard Cockerill said: 'When we received the call, Dover lifeboat, two lifeboats from Walmer, the Coastguard rescue helicopter and Langdon Coastguard Rescue Team were tasked to locate the school party from London. The group was advised to switch on their mobile phone lights to help us locate them. The group was located by one of the Walmer lifeboats in an area of active cliff falls and also spotted by the helicopter using the forward looking infra red camera.

All thirty six people were recovered to safety by lifeboat and helicopter.' Alex Brown, Winch Operator for the UK Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Lydd said: ‘The FLIR camera was working fantastically so we were able to locate the group quickly. The majority were rescued by lifeboat however, we did land on some rocks to rescue five people and brought them back to Dover Coastguard station.'

The Coxswain of Dover RNLI, Mark Finnis, said: 'The group were caught out by a rising tide. Thankfully the quick and well co-ordinated search and rescue response meant all thirty six casualties were rescued and were lucky to escape without serious injuries, but they've had a traumatic experience.'