Mum Dies After Head Trapped Between Rocks as Tide Rose, Inquest Hears

A mother drowned after becoming trapped head-first between large boulders on a seaside promenade as the tide rose, an inquest has heard. Saffron Cole-Nottage, 32, from Lowestoft, Suffolk, died on February 2 last year while walking along the seafront with her daughter and their dog.

Tragedy Unfolds on Lowestoft Seafront

According to Suffolk Coroner’s Court, the mother slipped and her head became wedged between rocks. Bystanders rushed to help but could not free her before the incoming tide submerged her. Her family described her as 'truly one of a kind' with 'the rare ability to light up any room.'

Rescue Attempts and Emergency Response

Alex Singleton-Dent, who was walking along the promenade, heard a girl screaming for help around 8pm. He said: 'I looked over the railings when I saw a girl shouting for help for her mum.' He climbed down and saw 'two legs sticking out from them.' Together with Ian Jones, another passerby, they tried to pull her free. Mr Jones stated: 'It felt like around 10 minutes we were pulling the lady’s legs but we just couldn’t pull her with enough force to free her.'

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The emergency call was made at 7.52pm, but the fire service reportedly arrived at 8.22pm. Ms Cole-Nottage’s daughter said: 'I can’t help but think if the ambulance arrived a little sooner they might have been able to do something to get the stuck lady out.' The girl recalled her mother screaming for help and the wait feeling 'like an eternity.'

Alcohol Level and Cause of Death

Pathologist Raj Logasundarum reported 271 milligrams of alcohol per 100ml of blood in Ms Cole-Nottage’s system, which 'would have significantly impaired her cognitive abilities.' The cause of death was drowning. Her partner, Mike Wheeler, said she had been drinking earlier but was acting normally. The inquest, expected to last two weeks, continues.