SEASIDE TRAGEDY
Mum who died after getting trapped between rocks on treacherous coastal path ‘was underwater by the time medics arrived’
The cause of her death is being treated as unexplained by police
A YOUNG mum who drowned after slipping on a coastal path "was underwater" and "unconscious" by the time medics arrived at the scene.
Saffron Cole-Nottage, 32, tragically lost her life in an accident which caused her to become wedged between rocks on Suffolk's seafront.
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The mother-of-three was walking her dog with her 11-year-old daughter last Sunday when she plunged down a gap between sea defence boulders.
Emergency services, including coastguard officers, police and paramedics rushed to help the young woman on Lowestoft seafront.
The latest update has revealed that Saffron was "underwater and unresponsive", according to .
It has also emerged that a debriefing is set to take place involving all of the emergency services involved.
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Rescuers desperately battled to free Saffron on Sunday evening as the tide headed in.
Local residents previously suggested the freak accident happened when the mum was walking along the seafront path.
Saffron only gave birth to her third child a few months ago, after her two other children Jessica, 11, and Jasmine, 7.
Signs at one end of the path warn users to stay off the boulders and to not walk on the section of beach under the town's Esplanade.
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Despite signage suggesting "access is restricted" the area is free to roam offering anyone who opts to ignore the signs the chance to step over a barrier at one end of the path.
The other end's warning is limited to a sign in the sand with no fencing or barrier to stop people from passing.
A friend of Ms Cole-Nottage who asked not to be named, told The Sun: "I believe she was out with her dog and was walking on the path when she slipped and got trapped.
"I think she had one daughter with her. It must have been horrific."
A 65-year-old man who has lived in Lowestoft all his life said: "Nobody is supposed to go down to that path.
"There is a barrier with a sign stopping people from going along it at one end and a sign at the other.
"The path is treacherous at any time of day, but even more so at night. It is just so slippery. I went down there once and slipped over.
"The surface is just like green slim. It is like an ice rink and slippery as hell. If you slip over, you could easily hit the rocks and end up breaking your leg or your neck.
"There are large gaps between the rocks and the path, and someone could easily tumble down."
Child services worker Sean Evans, 44, of Lowestoft said: "The path is extra slippery because it is underwater at high tide.
"The rocks are also underwater sometimes and the waves can be vicious as well. I wouldn't walk along it.
"I went down a similar path beside some other rocks further along the front when I was going fishing and it was treacherous. It felt like an ice rink and I felt it was too dangerous to stay there."
Heartbreaking note from kids among tributes
who lived in Lowestoft with her partner Michael Wheeler and children after moving from Gillingham, Kent.
Several bunches of flowers have been left on railings on the Esplanade above the spot where she died, describing her as a “beautiful” mother who would be “forever missed”.
Trish Butler who knew Ms Cole-Nottage and went to the spot to lay flowers today described her as “a beautiful girl inside and out”.
She added: “She was a lovely girl and a wonderful person, and the life and soul wherever she went.”
A bouquet left at the scene by Tricia and partner Barry read: “Rest in peace beautiful girl. So tragically taken, far too soon.”
Ms Cole-Nottage is believed to have had two daughters, aged 11 and seven, and a baby son born last year.
One touching tribute among messages left on the railings, said: “My beautiful mummy, I love you the world.”
Her partner Mr Wheeler left a hand-written message, saying: “My darling Saff, What can I really say. There are no words to express how much we will miss you.
“The world is so cruel and to take you in this freak horrific way will not sit well with me for the rest of my life.
“You will be forever missed by so many, and I’m really not sure I’ll ever be the same without you. Me and the kids will love you and never forget you. Until we meet again, love always, Mike and the kids.”
Another bouquet at the scene from past and present members of the Gillingham Ladies Darts League, said: “Dear Saff, Can’t believe this is real. We hold fond memories of you with much love.”
One more emotional message said: “Your lights shined bright down here and you'll shine bright up there too - forever 32.”
Yet another said: “To Saff, I never really told you how much I love you and how much you will be missed. I thank you for everything you have done for me.'
Online tributes also flooded in on social media, including one which said “rest in paradise Saff”.
Another said: “My beautiful bestie forever 32 the light to my everything I will miss u forever and always - the pain hurts so much, love you Saffron Cole-Nottage.”
Cops confirmed Suffolk Constabulary was called around 8:03pm on Sunday night to an incident on the coast off The Esplanade in the town.
The woman in her 30s show was declared dead at the scene with the cause being treated as unexplained.
Suffolk Police has deemed there no need for an independent referral or internal investigation following the incident.
A spokesman for Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service said: “This is a tragic incident and our deepest sympathies are with the family and friends of Ms Cole-Nottage.
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“SFRS sent specialist teams from both fire stations in Lowestoft. Crews mobilised immediately and once on scene instantly carried out a rescue into the care of the ambulance service.
"There will now be a formal multi-agency debrief, as is standard practice for an incident of this nature.”
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