A mother who drowned after becoming trapped headfirst in rocks at the seaside might have survived if the fire service had been alerted more promptly, a coroner has concluded.
Incident Details
Saffron Cole-Nottage, 32, of Lowestoft, Suffolk, was walking her dog with her daughter along the seafront on February 2 last year when she fell. A young girl called 999 at 7:52 PM and within 30 seconds informed the ambulance service call handler that a woman was “caught head down in the rock” near the seafront. The caller reported that Saffron was “screaming” at 7:57 PM and 7:58 PM, and a minute later stated she was “in the water now.”
Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service was the last of the four emergency services to be notified, with the first communication to them occurring at 8:04 PM. Firefighters arrived at the scene at 8:22 PM, and Suffolk area coroner Darren Stewart noted that they freed her in “less than half a minute” after initial attempts began at 8:29 PM. However, she was declared dead at 8:44 PM.
Expert Testimony
Professor Richard Lyon, a consultant in emergency medicine, told the inquest that a 30-minute clock for rescue efforts should start once a responder arrives and confirms a person is submerged. He stated, “I do not think the guidance was followed in this case.”
The coroner, recording a narrative conclusion, said Saffron “died from drowning which has come about due to accidental circumstances.” He added that the East of England Ambulance Service “didn’t immediately contact the fire service.” He continued: “Had the Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service been immediately alerted to the incident … it’s possible that Saffron would have been extricated from the rocks sooner and survived. However, it’s not probable she would have done so.”
Background
Saffron, who worked as a cleaner, was described by the coroner as a “loving mother completely devoted to her children.” The inquest heard that she “had been drinking” on the day of the accident, with a blood alcohol level of 271 milligrammes per 100 millilitres, more than three times the legal driving limit of 80 milligrammes.
The case has raised questions about emergency response protocols and the importance of timely coordination between services.
