Falmouth late night swim to docks nearly turns to tragedy (From Falmouth Packet)

Falmouth late night swim to docks nearly turns to tragedy

1:20pm Monday 4th February 2013 in News

A late night swim in Falmouth nearly turned to tragedy after a woman had to be pulled from the icy waters in the early hours of Friday morning.

Falmouth's inshore lifeboat was called out, alongside the coastguard cliff rescue team, ambulance and police after the coastguard first received a call reporting a person in the water in the inner harbour just before half past midnight.

A search stretching from Fish Strand Quay towards the town's docks was started by the inshore lifeboat at 12.37am.

Shouts for help could be heard and bystanders gave directions to the rescuers, who spotted the woman six minutes later approximately 400m from the shore.

By 12.50am the casualty was back on the quay and taken to a waiting ambulance.

An RNLI spokesperson said: “The casualty, who had been attempting to swim towards the docks, had become fatigued, was suffering from hypothermia and was struggling to remain afloat when the lifeboat reached her.

“Undoubtedly without the prompt action of the crew in locating and recovering her, this incident would have had a much more tragic outcome.”

Once it was confirmed that no one else was in the water, the inshore lifeboat was released to return to station at 1.10am.

It was back on its slipway seven minutes later where it was refuelled, rehoused and was ready for service again by 1.30am.