A FRENCH couple were dramatically saved by firefighters after getting washed into a cave at Plémont and becoming trapped by the rising tide.
The pair became cut off at about 4.30pm on Thursday after the woman slipped from rocks into the sea and broke her wrist and her husband jumped in after her – leaving the pair at the mercy of the rough sea which carried them deep into the cave.
The Fire and Rescue Service launched their inshore boat from Grève de Lecq in ‘challenging conditions’ before motoring around to Plèmont and communicating with further firefighters at the scene as well as paramedics and Coastguard staff – with contact with the Coastguard having to be relayed through Guernsey Coastguard because of poor reception.
The crew then used the difficult ‘veering down’ method – where the bow of the boat is kept facing the waves to prevent it getting swamped and an anchor line is dropped as the vessel inches backwards.
Once holding in position deep in the cave, one of the crew swam in with life jackets and rescued the couple, who were taken ashore and handed over to paramedics.
The crew has since received much praise for their actions.
Writing on Facebook, former firefighter Marc Le Cornu said: ‘Superb work! Extremely tough conditions and tricky manoeuvre in such a tight space! Looks brilliantly executed! Top professionalism team.’
Another commentator, Glenn Ashton, wrote: ‘An excellent example of seamanship in a very difficult and challenging environment and selfless determination to save lives.’
And Peter Russell wrote: ‘Great job guys. Not easy. Had to do that some time back as coxwain of a dive boat when two divers had difficulty in swells.’
