Four teenage girls who screamed for their lives at sea while clinging to rocks for an hour and a half after getting into trouble at a beauty spot were winched to safety by a rescue helicopter.
The group, aged about 16 years old, swam through the famous arch at Durdle Door but got caught out by the strong swell while attempting to return to the shingle beach.
Multiple people called 999 as they screamed for help while desperately holding on, and police, lifeboat and coastguard crews rushed to their aid at the idyllic Dorset landmark.
Due to the rocky location and the volatile sea state, they could not be reached by a boat, so a coastguard rescue helicopter was deployed.
The girls, who were wearing wetsuits, were winched to safety in the helicopter after a 90 minute ordeal.
Four teenage girls were winched to safety during a dramatic rescue after getting swept out to sea at idyllic Durdle Door
They were given check-ups after exposure to the cold water and scrapes to their legs from the rocks.
Walker Tracey Hannam, 56, a former RSPCA worker, said she heard the girls’ screams from the beach.
She said: ‘I was on the beach and saw two girls waving at us, then I could hear their screams. They were terrified.
‘There were two other girls around the corner from them, I think they were all 15 or 16 years old.
‘They swam through the arch but the sea was very rough.
‘I and others called 999 and watched the rescue.
‘The lifeboat could not reach them so a helicopter winched the girls to safety after about 90 minutes.
‘I’m so relieved that they are all ok.’
The incident at 4.30pm yesterday was attended by Dorset Police, Weymouth Lifeboat, Kimmeridge Coastguard, Lulworth Coastguard, South West Ambulance Service and Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 175.
The rescue was completed just before 6pm.
A Kimmeridge Coastguard spokesperson said: ‘Multiple 999 calls were received from members of the public informing that a group of people were screaming for help clinging to rocks a little way out to sea.
‘With Weymouth Lifeboat on scene and unable to attempt a safe rescue due to the sea state and location issues, it was down to CG helicopter R175 to carry out a winch recovery lifting the four people onto the helicopter.
‘With wet suits on the four people had been swept out to sea and managed to get to the rocks for safety until help arrived.
‘With the four people on board we set about securing a landing site and assisted in keeping them warm once under our care and transferring to an awaiting ambulance to be checked over for effects of cold and two with minor leg complaints.’
The group, aged about 16 years old, swam through the famous arch but got caught out by the strong swell while attempting to return to the shingle beach
A Weymouth Lifeboat spokesperson added: ‘The four girls were swimming and got into difficulties and were clinging to rocks.
‘The inshore lifeboat attended but there was too much swell to get right into the cliffs and rocks so the coastguard helicopter was the best way to rescue them.
‘The girls were winched to safety and taken to the top of the cliffs.’
Coastguard have urged swimmers to wear wetsuits and check the tide times before they enter the water.
Allan Norman, Senior Coastal Operations Officer for HM Coastguard, said: ‘We received multiple 999 calls about youngsters screaming for help and there were clearly a lot of people concerned.
‘We are grateful to all those that raised the alarm – we rushed to the scene and fairly quickly were able to speak to the casualties and provide some reassurance.
‘They had on wetsuits and that was key; it’s really important to be properly prepared. They were a little embarrassed but they didn’t need to be, we are here to help.
‘As we go into the Easter weekend, we expect lots of visitors to our coasts, so check tide times, read our safety tips on our website and – if things do go wrong – call 999 and ask for the coastguard.’
