Woman rescued from rough sea at Tynemouth

  • Tyne Tees
The woman was taken to Newcastle's RVI

A woman is recovering after RNLI volunteers and an RAF helicopter crew saved her from rough seas at Tynemouth.

The woman was walking at the base of Tynemouth pier just after 8.30am on November 5. The sea was rough with large waves breaking over the pier.

Humber Coastguard launched both Tynemouth all-weather and inshore RNLI lifeboats, Cullercoats RNLI lifeboat, an RAF rescue helicopter from RAF Boulmer and also tasked the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade to assist on shore.

Volunteer crewman Alun Ross climbed down a ladder and managed to take hold of the woman and walk with her back towards the ladder but a large wave broke over them, washing her into the sea, out of his reach.

The RAF rescue helicopter had arrived and lowered their winchman who managed to winch the woman onto the helicopter. She was taken to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary. Her condition is unknown at this time.