Their plan to stroll along the shoreline from Lyme Regis and reach Seaton beach in time for lunch instead turned into a torch-lit rescue operation with a lifeboat and Coastguard Rescue Teams called out.
Philippa (62) and David O’Brien (71), visiting from Andover, had done nearly everything right before heading out: checked the tides were safe, put on hiking boots and downloaded a digital map.
But not long after setting out at about 10.30am on 7 November, the terrain became unexpectedly difficult and Philippa, recovering from a broken ankle, started to worry how much further she could go.
“The pebbles became big rocks, and the rocks became boulders,” she said. “I was starting to tire and my ankle was weakening. There was no way we could walk the two miles back on that surface or reach Seaton.”
Seeking relief on the less arduous coastal footpath at the top of the cliffs above Charton Bay, Philippa and David ascended into a warren of routes hemmed in by woodland and brambles.
Tips to stay safe by the shore:
- Give yourself extra time to reach your destination
- Carry some food and water
- Check the tides to ensure you don’t get cut off
- In trouble by the coast? Call 999 and ask for the Coastguard
With the help of the map on David’s phone, after about an hour they found the main path – only to discover their escape was blocked in both directions by landslips. All the other routes led back to the beach.
Philippa’s anxiety grew further when her phone battery died, mobile reception disappeared, and the midafternoon daylight started to fade and the temperature fell.
“At that point, I said, ‘Enough. We’re going to need help’,” recalled Philippa. “I knew if it was 3.30pm, it would take us a few hours to retrace our steps. I did not fancy going over those boulders in the dark.”
David knew that a 999 call can sometimes still be made even if the phone doesn't have coverage from its network provider. An outgoing 999 call will still connect if there is another network with coverage in the location.
He got through and, using a geolocation app, passed on their position to the emergency call-handler.
“They told us, ‘Stay where you are. Help will come’,” said Philippa.
And it did. HM Coastguard picked up the incident and dispatched Coastguard Rescue Teams from Lyme Regis and Beer, as well as the RNLI’s inshore lifeboat from Lyme Regis. It located the couple by about 4.40pm, spotting them by the torch on David’s phone.
“Oh, the relief!” said Philippa. “I did not cry but I wanted to. I knew that once someone said they knew where we were, eventually we would be picked up.”
With support from the crew, they waded out to the lifeboat which ferried them back to Lyme Regis where Coastguard Rescue Officers were waiting to make sure they were safe and well.
Philippa said: “I just think the whole operation was amazing. The Coastguard and the RNLI both came out and even the call handler was great. I’d like to thank them all.”
Main Picture: David and Philippa O'Brien
