This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/kent/8218690.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Onlookers delay helicopter rescue | Onlookers delay helicopter rescue |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| Onlookers who refused to get out of the way of a rescue helicopter trying to land on a Kent beach were risking decapitation, coastguards have said. | Onlookers who refused to get out of the way of a rescue helicopter trying to land on a Kent beach were risking decapitation, coastguards have said. |
| A 49-year-old woman was eventually airlifted to hospital after being saved from the sea at Folkestone on Saturday. | A 49-year-old woman was eventually airlifted to hospital after being saved from the sea at Folkestone on Saturday. |
| Spike Hughes, of Dover Coastguard said the rescue was hampered by people who refused to move to a safe distance. | Spike Hughes, of Dover Coastguard said the rescue was hampered by people who refused to move to a safe distance. |
| He said it was madness people wanted to get so close, because a helicopter's blades can kill. | He said it was madness people wanted to get so close, because a helicopter's blades can kill. |
| Mr Hughes added: "What we had to try and do with our team is actually to clear that particular area for them to land. | Mr Hughes added: "What we had to try and do with our team is actually to clear that particular area for them to land. |
| It is absolute madness because the blades rotate so fast they can decapitate people Spike Hughes, Dover Coastguard | It is absolute madness because the blades rotate so fast they can decapitate people Spike Hughes, Dover Coastguard |
| "My team down there went into the area and asked a lot of people if they would move out of the area. | "My team down there went into the area and asked a lot of people if they would move out of the area. |
| "The problem was there were a few people that didn't want to take note of what we were staying and decided to stay in the area. | "The problem was there were a few people that didn't want to take note of what we were staying and decided to stay in the area. |
| "It is absolute madness because the blades rotate so fast they can decapitate people. It's just stupidity that people want to get so close to it." | "It is absolute madness because the blades rotate so fast they can decapitate people. It's just stupidity that people want to get so close to it." |
| The woman was pulled from the water by two members of the public who went to her aid after she got into difficulties at about 1500 BST on Saturday. | The woman was pulled from the water by two members of the public who went to her aid after she got into difficulties at about 1500 BST on Saturday. |
| She was treated by paramedics on the beach at The Leas and then airlifted to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford for treatment. | She was treated by paramedics on the beach at The Leas and then airlifted to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford for treatment. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Spike Hughes said the people on Folkestone beach risked decapitation by the rotor blades | Spike Hughes said the people on Folkestone beach risked decapitation by the rotor blades |