A critical Coastguard operation unfolded at Towan Beach, Newquay, as ferocious waves and super high spring tides isolated a couple in a small cove. Eighteen volunteer Coastguards from Padstow and Newquay raced to the scene after the couple shouted for help from the base of the cliff. Eighteen Coastguards take part, the mainly volunteer crews are scrambled from Padstow and Newquay after super high spring tides combined with ferocious waves cut off a couple in a tiny cove at Towan Beach, Newquay, Cornwall.
A plan was devised to extract the couple to safety. The situation was deemed dangerous as high spring tides coincided with storm-driven waves building from the Atlantic. It is decided that the only option is to bring the individuals to the cliff top is by rope. Coastguards erected special apparatus to abseil down and bring the two up one at a time. The couple is safely liberated, shaken but unharmed after the experience. Newquay, Cornwall, UK