THE Bude Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) have released a warning to people not to attempt self rescue after one man became trapped on cliffs near Bude after attempting to rescue another.

Bude CRT were paged at 9.32pm on Saturday, August 12, following reports of a person stuck on the rocks at Northcott Mouth near Bude, with a second person trapped after attempting a rescue. Three people were winched to safety.

The Bude Lifeboat and Rescue 924, the Coastguard rescue helicopter, were also scrambled. Police also attended the scene.

As the team arrived at Northcottt beach radio communication was received from Bude Lifeboat indicating that their engine had failed whilst offshore from the incident. As is procedure, the Padstow All-Weather Lifeboat was tasked in response to come to the aid of the Bude Lifeboat crew.

Meanwhile, mustering on scene, Bude CRT split into two groups. One team based themselves in the field to the south of Northcott Bungalow to provide communications, whilst the other team liaised with police and the first informant above the unfolding scene.

Following a briefing from the police, and with a visual check, it appeared that one casualty was in serious danger, on a rock that was being battered by waves, and two further casualties — one of whom had attempted a rescue — were stuck in a cove just north of the first casualty’s position.

This information was also related to Rescue 924, who had arrived on the scene. As many sightseers had congregated at the cliff top, Bude CRT and the police set about providing crowd control.

As the situation unfolded, word was received that Bude Lifeboat had managed to restart their engine and were returning to the Lifeboat Station. Padstow Lifeboat was stood down.

Rescue 924 quickly lowered a winchman to recue the first casualty, who was, at this point, in the water. The winchman was lowered into the breaking waves and managed to retrieve the casualty and then lift them to the beach. As this rescue was underway, members of Bude CRT who were in the southerly position set about preparing a helicopter landing site should Rescue 924 decide to land on the cliff top.

After having winched all three casualties aboard the helicopter, Rescue 924 then set down and released the person who had attempted a rescue, to be reunited with his partner. The other two casualties were flown directly to hospital.

Bude CRT did a final check of the cliff top and returned to the Coastguard station.