South West Coastguard stare down storm
The Coastguard have renewed warnings against people approaching the Devon coast in the bad weather after a busy night helping to rescue those affected by the storm.
In just under three hours the rescue co-ordinators recived seven callouts including help in evacuating homes and town centres.
They now ask that people take extra care and avoid the risks of cliffs and the coastline.
David Colmer Brixham Coastguard Watch Manager said: "As we have severe gale storm force winds, high tides and heavy rain, HM Coastguard is urging people to stay away from the coast.
"In this part of the country, conditions on the sea and along the coast are currently extremely treacherous."
In one evening the Brixham Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre dealt with:
- 7:19pm: reports of flooding at Looe - Looe Coastguard Rescue Team went to the scene and helped Devon and Cornwall Police evacuate the town centre and people are asked to stay away from seafront
- 7:27pm: Teignmouth Seafront car park swamped by waves -Teignmouth Coastguard Rescue team cordon off the car park and ask people to stay away as the breaking waves are dangerous
- 8:07pm: The Environment Agency, Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service and Devon and Cornwall Police requested the help of the Coastguard to evacuate 30 houses in Kingsand, Cornwall and Tamar Coastguard Rescue Team helped evacuate a number of people to safety
- 8:21pm: Brixham Coastguard received reports of a yacht that had broken its moorings at Kingsbridge, Devon - Prawle Point Coastguard cordoned off the vessel but was unable to secure the vessel because of the dangers
- 9:08pm: Brixham Coastguard received a report from a member of the public that the sea wall had collapsed at Dawlish near the railway line - this information was passed on to Network Rail
- 9:32pm: Brixham Coastguard received reports of 2 people trapped in a car at Dawlish Seafront because of sea conditions - Teignmouth Coastguard helped Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service rescue them
- 9:57pm: Brixham Coastguard received reports of houses being flooded by breaking waves at Torcross - Dartmouth Coastguard and Prawle Point Coastguard rescue team, in conjunction with the police, checked properties to make sure the residents were safe
HM Coastguard’s advice is simple: don’t take risks by straying too close to cliff edges or breaking waves and please stay out of flood water. But if you do get into difficulty, or spot someone who might be in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.
