Three people and two dogs rescued from capsized boat

Three people and two dogs were rescued from rocks after their boat capsized between Mill Bay Beach and Sunny Cove.

Three Coastguard rescue teams from Dartmouth, Kingsbridge and Bigbury, were called to the Sunny Cove area between East Portlemouth and Salcombe around 9.30pm on Saturday.  

A spokesperson for Dartmouth Coastguard Rescue Team said: "The location was some distance from the Mill Bay-National Trust carpark and along the South West Coast Path and all our equipment had to be transported manually to the cliff top above the casualties, before the rescue could commence. 

"Due to weather conditions as there was a substantial swell and waves breaking, it was decided that a rope rescue was the the most appropriate and more importantly the safest method to extract the people and dogs. 

"A rope rescue commenced and a specialist rope rescue technician was lowered over the cliff in challenging conditions. He then successfully brought up the people one at a time as well as the dogs to the cliff top. Where they were each assessed and taken to one of our coastguard vehicle to warm up. None of the people or dogs required any further medical treatment, and they able to return home.

"So a successful rescue and outcome for all concerned, after collecting all our equipment and a debrief we were all stood down."