Boys 'very lucky' after being stuck on cliff for three hours
TWO 12-year-old boys suffered hypothermia after being stuck on a windy cliff for nearly three hours.
Rescuers said the boys were 'very lucky' to have been found and rescued.
At one point waves were crashing over their heads and the schoolboys had to get into the water to swim from rock to rock. They then climbed up to a plateau about 12ft below the top at Roundham Head.
After shouting for nearly one and a half hours their screams for help were eventually heard by two women holidaymakers, who spent some time trying to identify where the sound was coming from. The holidaymakers then asked a resident in Roundham Gardens to ring 999.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, May 26 2013
The boys had gone to play on the beach at Roundham Head at Paignton after school on Monday afternoon and were cut off by the incoming tide.
They attempted to climb the cliffs, but got stuck about 12ft down from the top.
Sgt Mark Ruston said: "They were incredibly lucky it wasn't worse.
"Once their teeth stopped chattering and we got them wrapped up in blankets they told us the waves had crashed over them. They were describing how one had been in the water trying to get to a different rock.
"They didn't set out to cause an emergency operation, and they were given some words of advice."
The boys later said they had been stuck for two to three hours.
Luckily Torbay Coastguard crews were training at their nearby Paignton harbour station and were on scene within minutes. Sector manager Pip Hall said: "It was very cold. There was a strong easterly wind blowing right at them. They were very cold and suffering from mild hypothermia."
The 12-year-old boys had gone for a walk after school around Roundham Head.
A coastguard said: "They'd got cut off by the tide. I understand they tried to climb up the cliff and got stuck."
The boys were taken to Torbay Hospital by ambulance to be checked over and reunited with their parents.
Comments