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| Mother drowned rescuing sons, inquest hears | Mother drowned rescuing sons, inquest hears |
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| A mother died after she tried to rescue her young sons as they were being swept out to sea, an inquest has heard. | A mother died after she tried to rescue her young sons as they were being swept out to sea, an inquest has heard. |
| Alison Tooby, from Taunton in Somerset, was visiting Northcott Mouth near Bude in north Cornwall when she got into difficulty going after one of her sons. Her other son was also caught up in the strong rip current at the quiet beauty spot on 3 September last year. | Alison Tooby, from Taunton in Somerset, was visiting Northcott Mouth near Bude in north Cornwall when she got into difficulty going after one of her sons. Her other son was also caught up in the strong rip current at the quiet beauty spot on 3 September last year. |
| Beachgoers piled into the water to try and rescue the trio, with one witness commenting how those in the water were "thrown around like corks in a barrel". The two boys were rescued and treated for shock but Tooby's lifeless body was pulled from the sea, and she was later declared dead. | Beachgoers piled into the water to try and rescue the trio, with one witness commenting how those in the water were "thrown around like corks in a barrel". The two boys were rescued and treated for shock but Tooby's lifeless body was pulled from the sea, and she was later declared dead. |
| Coroner John Tomalin recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest in Bideford, Devon, on Thursday. | Coroner John Tomalin recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest in Bideford, Devon, on Thursday. |
| He said: "Alison knew the beach well and would not have knowingly put her boys in danger. Tragedy is the right word to describe this incident. I am sure Alison did as any parent would try to – enter the sea to rescue her children. I think this serves as a reminder that we must respect the sea and take care." | He said: "Alison knew the beach well and would not have knowingly put her boys in danger. Tragedy is the right word to describe this incident. I am sure Alison did as any parent would try to – enter the sea to rescue her children. I think this serves as a reminder that we must respect the sea and take care." |
| The coroner also praised the "selfless acts and heroism" of those who tried to save Tooby and her sons. | The coroner also praised the "selfless acts and heroism" of those who tried to save Tooby and her sons. |
| Holidaymaker Simon Hill was among those who took part in the rescue after being alerted by a woman who spotted Tooby, 53, in difficulty. | Holidaymaker Simon Hill was among those who took part in the rescue after being alerted by a woman who spotted Tooby, 53, in difficulty. |
| He said: "I saw a woman's head in the water. It looked as though she was in trouble. I could see two boys in the water, they were all far out. I swam towards the boy and I said 'You have to go in' (back to the shore). | He said: "I saw a woman's head in the water. It looked as though she was in trouble. I could see two boys in the water, they were all far out. I swam towards the boy and I said 'You have to go in' (back to the shore). |
| "I was confident he could get himself in. He seemed remarkably calm and was paddling his way towards me. | "I was confident he could get himself in. He seemed remarkably calm and was paddling his way towards me. |
| "I looked to my right and I saw a woman, 50 yards away, face down. The tide was extremely strong and was pulling me out to sea. Alison appeared unresponsive." | "I looked to my right and I saw a woman, 50 yards away, face down. The tide was extremely strong and was pulling me out to sea. Alison appeared unresponsive." |
| The court heard lifeguard cover at the beach ended the previous day, due to local schools returning that week and visitor numbers being low. | The court heard lifeguard cover at the beach ended the previous day, due to local schools returning that week and visitor numbers being low. |
| A walker, Rosalind Arthur, helped raise the alarm when she heard screams from the water. | A walker, Rosalind Arthur, helped raise the alarm when she heard screams from the water. |
| She said she was stopped by one of the boys, who had made his way back to the shore, and said his mother and brother were stuck in the sea. | She said she was stopped by one of the boys, who had made his way back to the shore, and said his mother and brother were stuck in the sea. |
| Martin Fry, an experienced lifeguard, was among the first on scene to help the trio, but he described how conditions would have been difficult even for an experienced swimmer or surfer. | Martin Fry, an experienced lifeguard, was among the first on scene to help the trio, but he described how conditions would have been difficult even for an experienced swimmer or surfer. |
| He described how Tooby's death had been sorely felt by the community, adding: "We have got a reputation for looking after our beaches and people. The whole community was devastated." | He described how Tooby's death had been sorely felt by the community, adding: "We have got a reputation for looking after our beaches and people. The whole community was devastated." |
| Tooby's partner, Mike McGuffie, praised the actions of those who saved the boys' lives, and tried in vain to help their mother. | Tooby's partner, Mike McGuffie, praised the actions of those who saved the boys' lives, and tried in vain to help their mother. |
| He said: "I would like to thank everybody who went into the water to help. Having listened to this today, everybody was very brave and I thank them." | He said: "I would like to thank everybody who went into the water to help. Having listened to this today, everybody was very brave and I thank them." |
| The coroner said the death was caused by drowning, but said an underlying heart condition would have made it difficult for Tooby to cope with the sea that day. | The coroner said the death was caused by drowning, but said an underlying heart condition would have made it difficult for Tooby to cope with the sea that day. |
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