A RESCUE mission by Sidmouth Lifeboat crew saved the lives of a father and his eight-year-old son who got into trouble at Landram Bay when their dinghy capsized on Tuesday.

A RESCUE mission by Sidmouth Lifeboat crew saved the lives of a father and his eight-year-old son who got into trouble at Landram Bay when their dinghy capsized on Tuesday.

Sidmouth Lifeboat was launched by Portland Coastguard at 4pm following a report from a worried onlooker who witnessed the dinghy overturning.

When the four Lifeboat crew arrived at the scene they found the man and his son clinging onto the southern end of a rock stack and were in danger of being swept out to sea.

Due to severe wind conditions one of the crewmen, Andy Downham, was attached to a swimming line to recover the casualties.

Despite being buffeted by the heavy swell of the sea, Mr Downham was successful in bringing the pair to the lifeboat.

The boat was then taken back to Sidmouth where the rescued man and boy were taken to hospital by ambulance suffering from the cold.

The Lifeboat then launched for a second time to recover the dinghy which had been separated from the rescued pair.

The other Lifeboat crew who attended the scene were Andy Carmichael, Phil Marish and Tony Golds and the Lifeboat was towed by tractor driver, Mick Maulden.

The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter and Exmouth Coastguards also attended.

The incident on Tuesday is the 14th time the lifeboat has been called out this year and coastguards are warning people of the risk of using inflatables in the sea.

Nigel Robson, Portland Coastguard Watch Manager, said: "With strong winds evident on the coast today and gales forecast it is a pertinent time to remind people of the danger of using inflatables that are not tethered to the shore, as even light winds can upturn an inflatable or blow it out to sea.