A woman is in intensive care after being swept into the sea at Lizard Point on New Year's Day.

She had been walking on the beach when she was caught by a freak wave that swept her into the water and out to sea.

The Lizard lifeboat, coastguards from Mullion and Porthoustock, and the coastguard helicopter were all scrambled to her aid just after 1.15pm on Monday, along with police and the ambulance service.

They carried out a land and sea search of the area following reports of a person being in the water.

The woman, believed to have been on holiday in the area with her partner, was subsequently found on the beach and was winched into the coastguard helicopter, which transferred her to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro.

Initial reports from the coastguard suggested that she had subsequently died.

However, a further update has now confirmed that having been airlifted to Treliske, she was placed in intensive care and is currently being maintained on life support. 

A spokesperson for Porthoustock Coastguard said the team had initially been told en route that there could be two or even three people in the water, but this was later confirmed to be people who had tried to rescue the woman, including her partner. He was later treated for hypothermia and shock by coastguards before being taken to hospital in an ambulance as a precaution.

The spokesperson added: "On our arrival at scene, Mullion CRT had already pulled the casualty from the water and were, along with an R924 paramedic, performing CPR on the casualty. The casualty was shortly after winched into the helicopter and conveyed to Treliske.

"Our thoughts are with the family and friends at this time."

A Lizard lifeboat spokesperson described the conditions as "treacherous" and said the volunteer crew's thoughts were with all involved.