Surfers tell of cave rescue drama

Chy Start-Walker was airlifted to hospital with her father and friends

Brave surfers have told how they helped rescue a father and his young daughter from a cave in huge seas off Cornwall.

Justin Adcock, 34 and 12-year-old Chy Start-Walker had been washed into the cave at Chapel Porth near St Agnes by a rip tide on Sunday afternoon.

Surfers Tom Roberson and Jamie Kent, both former lifeguards at Chapel Porth, swam to their rescue.

They then helped the pair into a lifeboat in a dramatic rescue as 7ft (2.1m) waves swept in.

Chapel Porth is a very dangerous beach at any time, especially with the swell running and the strong current Tom Roberson

Mr Roberson said: "We knew we were more able than them so we just had to go and help them out.

"The most worrying time was when we thought the lifeboat would not be able to come into the cave.

"We were making plans to swim out with the girl through the mouth of the cave which would have been pretty tricky, but then there was a lull between the waves and the lifeboat very skilfully was able to reverse into the cave and take them away.

"Jamie and I were able to swim out of the cave and back to the beach."

He said that experienced surfers knew the beach's perils, but newcomers could be taken unaware by rip tides.

"There were a lot of experienced surfers out there making the most of the conditions.

"But Chapel Porth is a very dangerous beach at any time, especially with the swell running and the strong current.

"People should never go out by yourselves and never go out unless you are confident in what you are doing."

Chy was treated with her father and two other young friends who were also rescued at the Royal Cornwall Hospital.

Her mother Sharon Start-Walker said: "Thank goodness they were there with locals who knew what they were doing.

"A big thank you to the lifeboat crew, the crew in the helicopter and all the people involved."