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Dorset cave death siblings 'changed plans' | Dorset cave death siblings 'changed plans' |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The brother of a woman who died in a sea cave in Dorset has told an inquest that they were going kitesurfing but changed their plans due to the weather. | The brother of a woman who died in a sea cave in Dorset has told an inquest that they were going kitesurfing but changed their plans due to the weather. |
Charlotte, 30, and Alex Furness-Smith had been coasteering when they became trapped at Durlston, near Swanage, on 2 November last year. | Charlotte, 30, and Alex Furness-Smith had been coasteering when they became trapped at Durlston, near Swanage, on 2 November last year. |
Mr Furness-Smith, 31, managed to get out and went to find help. | Mr Furness-Smith, 31, managed to get out and went to find help. |
By the time rescuers managed to get to his sister she had died. Her body has never been found. | By the time rescuers managed to get to his sister she had died. Her body has never been found. |
Ms Furness-Smith, known as "Buffy" to her friends, was a former Royal Navy reservist and a maths teacher at Bristol Free School. | Ms Furness-Smith, known as "Buffy" to her friends, was a former Royal Navy reservist and a maths teacher at Bristol Free School. |
The inquest at Bournemouth Coroner's Court heard how the pair had been climbing and swimming along the cliff face - an activity known as coasteering - when the weather deteriorated even more. | |
Blowhole conversation | Blowhole conversation |
Winds of 35mph and waves of 3ft (1m) pushed them into Tilly Whim cave, a sea cave at the old stone quarries at Durlston. | Winds of 35mph and waves of 3ft (1m) pushed them into Tilly Whim cave, a sea cave at the old stone quarries at Durlston. |
Inside the cave it was pitch black and they were being tossed upside down by the waves, Mr Furness-Smith told the hearing. | Inside the cave it was pitch black and they were being tossed upside down by the waves, Mr Furness-Smith told the hearing. |
After several failed attempts he managed to escape and raised the alarm. | After several failed attempts he managed to escape and raised the alarm. |
A coastguard helicopter arrived within eight minutes and he was winched to safety. | A coastguard helicopter arrived within eight minutes and he was winched to safety. |
Paramedic winchman Adrian Rogers was then lowered to a blowhole at the top of the cave from where he spoke to Ms Furness-Smith still trapped inside. | Paramedic winchman Adrian Rogers was then lowered to a blowhole at the top of the cave from where he spoke to Ms Furness-Smith still trapped inside. |
He said he called to her: "Are you ok? Can you hear me?" | He said he called to her: "Are you ok? Can you hear me?" |
She replied: "Yes." | She replied: "Yes." |
Mr Rogers was unable to lift her out of the blowhole and a specialist rescue team was called. | Mr Rogers was unable to lift her out of the blowhole and a specialist rescue team was called. |
When they got inside the cave they discovered Ms Furness-Smith's lifeless body lying face down in the water. | When they got inside the cave they discovered Ms Furness-Smith's lifeless body lying face down in the water. |
They were not able to recover the body and subsequent searches failed to find it. | They were not able to recover the body and subsequent searches failed to find it. |
The inquest continues. | The inquest continues. |
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