A WOMAN was rescued by Sidmouth Lifeboat after her inflatable dinghy was blown out to sea last Friday. The woman, of Worthing, Sussex was on holiday with her husband and two sons in Exmouth and had travelled to Sidmouth for a day trip. She realised she

A WOMAN was rescued by Sidmouth Lifeboat after her inflatable dinghy was blown out to sea last Friday.

The woman, of Worthing, Sussex was on holiday with her husband and two sons in Exmouth and had travelled to Sidmouth for a day trip.

She realised she was in trouble when the offshore wind blew her out to sea, about 100 metres off Sidmouth, and she could not paddle back to land.

The casualty, in a state of panic, jumped into the sea in a desperate effort to tow the dinghy back to dry land.

Two members of the public, concerned for her safety, alerted the lifeboat station and the Pride of Sidmouth was launched from Clifton beach.

Two canoeists came to the aid of the woman as the Lifeboat was launched and towed her towards the shore.

The crew then helped her onto the lifeboat and brought her ashore.

She was taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital by ambulance with suspected hypothermia but was released later that day.

Perry King, one of the lifeboat crew, has issued a warning about offshore winds. He said: "People should be aware of the wind when it is blowing off the land.

"The sea may look very flat and calm but the strength of the wind means that people can not get back to shore.