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Couple washed off wall and drown Pair washed off wall and drowned
(about 9 hours later)
A man and a woman were killed when they were washed off a harbour wall in Cornwall. A man and a woman have been killed after being washed off a harbour wall in Cornwall.
The couple were walking along the pier at Mullion Cove when a wave washed them into the sea in gale force winds.The couple were walking along the pier at Mullion Cove when a wave washed them into the sea in gale force winds.
Coastguards were contacted shortly after 1700 GMT on Sunday and an RNLI lifeboat and Royal Navy rescue helicopter were dispatched.Coastguards were contacted shortly after 1700 GMT on Sunday and an RNLI lifeboat and Royal Navy rescue helicopter were dispatched.
Gale force winds and rough seas meant the bodies of the pair could only be reached by the helicopter.Gale force winds and rough seas meant the bodies of the pair could only be reached by the helicopter.
Harbour 'exposed' The rope snapped and he drifted back out to sea Julian Sturdy
They were taken to Treliske Hospital where they were pronounced dead. A BBC television crew filming in Mullion managed to get a life-belt to the man but the rope snapped.
The helicopter had previously been scrambled during the day to rescue a girl swept away by a river in Devon. Julian Sturdy, who threw the life-belt, said huge waves swept the man out.
He said: "I saw him go under, but he then revived, saw the belt and swam for it.
"He got into it and I held on to the piece of rope. I managed to pull him towards the harbour wall and I held on to him for a couple of minutes in the hope he might be able to scramble on to the rock.
"But, sadly, the rope snapped and he drifted back out to sea."
Eyewitnesses said the woman quickly slipped underwater.
Lifeboat injuries
Rescuers winched the stricken couple into an RNAS Culdrose helicopter and they were taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital at Treliske, Truro, but were pronounced dead.
The Lizard lifeboat was also sent to the scene. On its return, the sea was so rough three crew members suffered minor injuries.
Coxswain Philip Burgess said there was a 30ft to 40ft (9m to 12m) swell in the area at the time.
A Falmouth Coastguard spokesman said the woman was believed to be from outside the area.A Falmouth Coastguard spokesman said the woman was believed to be from outside the area.
Exposed harbour
He said: "The sea was extremely rough at the time. There were gale force winds, heavy rain and big waves.He said: "The sea was extremely rough at the time. There were gale force winds, heavy rain and big waves.
The spokesman added: "They were basically washed off the breakwater at Mullion Cove by a wave. The harbour is quite exposed to rough weather." "They were basically washed off the breakwater at Mullion Cove by a wave. The harbour is quite exposed to rough weather."
Police have not named the man and woman and were in the process of contacting next of kin. Police have not named the man and woman and said they were in the process of contacting next of kin.
The helicopter had previously been scrambled during the day to rescue a girl swept away by a river on Dartmoor in Devon. She died in hospital overnight.