Young woman and man swept to their deaths after being knocked off sea wall by huge waves
A YOUNG woman and a man have died after being knocked off a sea wall by huge waves in Cornwall.
The woman in her 20s and man in his 40s were swept from the harbour wall at Mullion Cove on Monday evening.
They were winched from the water and taken to Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro, before their deaths were confirmed.
Falmouth coastguard James Instance said a helicopter and two lifeboats were scrambled.
He said: “There was darkness and confused seas. When the aircraft arrived, it used its floodlight capability and two people were recovered from the water relatively quickly.”
Photos taken during the rescue showed a coastguard helicopter searching the waters and an RNLI lifeboat weathering choppy conditions.
The coastguard confirmed that the Penlee and Lizard lifeboats attended the scene, joining coastguard rescue teams from Mullion and Porthleven.
In a statement, Penlee Lifeboat said: "The Lizard all-weather lifeboat and Penlee Inshore lifeboat launched to reports of two people swept off the harbour wall into the water at Mullion Cove, making their way in rough sea conditions and strong winds."
Describing the conditions at the time, they said: "The weather was at the limit for the inshore lifeboat with force six winds and a heavy four to five meter swell."
Devon and Cornwall Police confirmed the pair died and their deaths are not being treated as suspicious.
Residents have previously warned visitors about watching storms at Mullion Cove, as the harbour wall is low.
Fisherman Jonny Pascoe, who tried to help locate the casualties in the sea, said: “It’s really, really tragic.
“We know the dangers of the sea all too well and this is notorious. It doesn’t take much water to knock someone off their feet and into the water.”
Another local added: “If you stand on a harbour wall in stormy weather, throwing up huge waves, you will likely get washed into the sea…thus putting the lives of the people who come to your aid in danger as well as your own. And to go on the wall at night?”
A spokesperson for the force said: “Police were called by the coastguard at 7.15pm last night to Mullion Cove, Helston, following reports that two people had been swept into the sea from the harbour wall.
“Ambulance, police, HM Coastguard and their helicopter attended the scene.
“A woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s, were recovered from the water by the coastguard helicopter crew and taken to Treliske hospital.
“Sadly, they were both later confirmed deceased. Their next of kin have been informed.
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"The deaths are not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner in due course.”
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