Exeter-Newton Abbot disruption 9 October.

[whole diary]

[James Vertigan]

FGW^▸ (First Great Western) site advising "poor weather conditons" between EXD^» (Exeter St Davids - next trains) and NTA^» (Newton Abbott - next trains) at the moment, but looking at the current forecasts, I can't see why there's a problem, weather looks relatively calm at the moment with no heavy rain forecast - can anyone in the area advise? Not localised heavy snow is it? 

I'm sure it can't be due to heavy seas at Dawlish - wind is only 15mph!

[rogerw]

It may not be very windy in S Devon but there were strong winds in Penzance at lunchtime today and the sea is very rough.  The down line was getting a wash when I came past just before 6 and it was not yet high tide then.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Hmm.   It does seem to be fairly serious - from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) live updates:

Line incidents

Line problem between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot.
Train services are being disrupted due to poor weather conditions between Exeter St Davids and Newton Abbot. Short notice alterations and delays of up to 15 minutes can be expected.
Last Updated: 09/10/2010 18:55

Service incidents

19:50 Paignton to Exeter St Davids due 20:36
This train has been cancelled. This is due to poor weather conditions.
Last Updated: 09/10/2010 17:06

[Louis94]

Having just travelled that section of line can report that trains are still getting a brief wash and according to our train manager a Temporary speed restriction was in place, but has now been removed. Because of this Crosscountry have decided not to send any voyagers beyond exeter.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Wimps! 

[amiddl]

I wnet through at about 5.30 and all seemed ok.

[fatcontroller]

The 20mph speed restriction was implemented at 18:30 along with level 1 working. This means that a member of Pway travels on every down train.

The round trip to Paignton was cancelled due to several trains in quick succession.

Hope this helps.

[woody]

Caught the 1506 Paddington/Penzance from Exeter(1735 dep) to Plymouth was a bit choppy but have seen it much worse.However high tide was not expected until 1930 ish so hence the implementation of the 20mph speed restriction at 18:30 along with level 1 working I suppose.

[devon_metro]

Presumably a spring tide.

[old original]

Also the wind was coming from an easterly direction which makes a difference.

[Chris from Nailsea]

It was indeed a spring tide, causing widespread problems.

From the Maritime & Coastguard Agency press release:

GIRLS SWEPT FROM SEA WALL AT DAWLISH

Coastguard Rescue Teams, a Coastguard Helicopter, lifeboats, a Police Helicopter and an Ambulance were all tasked by Brixham Coastguard this evening to the rescue of two girls who were swept into the sea from the sea wall at Dawlish.

At 6.45 pm Brixham Coastguard received reports that two girls were screaming and shouting for help from the sea after being swept from the sea wall. The girls had been swept about 20 yards out into the rough seas, and one girl was in significantly more difficulty, with the other helping to keep her afloat.

Brixham Coastguard requested Teignmouth and Exmouth lifeboats and Coastguard Rescue Teams attend, along with launching the Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Portland. A Police helicopter also proceeded and an ambulance was called.

Easterly winds, spring tides and high water made the rescue conditions difficult, but both girls were recovered into the Exmouth Inshore lifeboat and brought ashore into Exmouth dock. Both were met by the ambulance and taken to hospital.

Brixham Coastguard Watch Manager Dave Scullion said:

These two girls are incredibly lucky, and owe their lives to the quick thinking of a group of boys on scene who threw them a buoy to keep them afloat, and to the lifeboat crew who effected a difficult rescue in challenging conditions.

Both girls ^ one 15 years old and the other 16 ^ were taken to hospital by ambulance. The older girl has been released but the younger girl is being treated for secondary drowning [1] and will be kept in intensive care overnight.

Spring tides result in tides that are higher than usual, and in these conditions members of the public should keep a safe distance away from the shore.

[Chris from Nailsea]

Further details, on that story - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

'Space hopper' saves drowning girls in Devon

A 'space hopper' type toy has helped save two teenage girls who were swept out to sea in Dawlish, east Devon.

The toy - like a large, heavy rubber balloon with handles - was thrown to the pair, aged 15 and 16, when they were too far out to reach a life buoy.

The girls managed to grab it and use it as a float to reach the life buoy before being rescued by lifeboat crews.

Coastguards, police and the ambulance service were also involved in the rescue on Saturday evening.

The teenagers, who have not been named, were swept off a sea wall and dragged about 18m (59ft) out to sea at about 1830 BST.

A group of young men heard their screams, grabbed a life buoy and ran along the wall to throw it to them but it would not reach.

Then a neighbour came out with the inflatable toy and that was thrown into the sea.

Leigh Jarratt, one of the rescuers, said: "We were just trying to scream to them to swim to the life buoy. To be honest the only thing that saved them was one of my other neighbours, Shane, he brought out a space hopper. Matt, with a brilliant throw, managed to get it right next to the girls and they managed to get hold of the space hopper for a long enough time to be able to get hold of the life buoy. The space hopper saved the day."

Brixham Coastguard co-ordinated a rescue involving Teignmouth and Exmouth lifeboats and coastguard rescue teams.

A coastguard rescue helicopter from Portland, Dorset, and a police helicopter were also scrambled, along with an ambulance.

The girls were taken to the Royal Devon & Exeter hospital, where the younger one was treated for secondary drowning - a condition where water has entered the lungs and can result in the casualty drowning several hours later if fluid in the lungs impairs the breathing process.

She was kept in overnight. Her current condition is not known.

Brixham Coastguard watch manager Dave Scullion said: "These two girls are incredibly lucky. They owe their lives to the quick thinking of a group of boys on scene who threw them a buoy to keep them afloat and to the lifeboat crew who effected a difficult rescue in challenging conditions."

[Chris from Nailsea]

A happy outcome, on the 'spacehopper' rescue story - from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Girls swept into sea off Devon describe ordeal

Two teenage girls who were rescued after they were swept into the sea off Devon have described their ordeal.

Hannah Woolacott, 16, and Charlotte Wright, 15, from Exeter, were swept off the sea wall at Dawlish on 9 October. They were rescued by a lifeboat crew after passers-by threw them an inflatable 'space hopper' toy to hold on to.

Earlier the girls visited Exmouth Lifeboat Station to thank their rescuers.

Miss Woolacott said: "We had missed the train and so were walking along the Dawlish sea wall, which we had done many times before. It was quite calm but then, all of a sudden, there was a large wave that swept Charlotte into the sea and a second one that got me straight after."

The girls, who were both described as strong swimmers, were unable to reach the shore because of the strong current and weather conditions.

Giles White, the lifeboat's helmsman, said: "We had one shot at it as the waves were rebounding off the sea wall. We just had to take it."

Miss Wright, who suffered secondary drowning in the incident, said: "I couldn't remember the [lifeboat crews'] faces very well as I was drifting in and out of consciousness. We are just so grateful. If it weren't for people like this risking their lives to save ours, we wouldn't be here today."

[chrisoates]

Excellent result - well done the boys for quick thinking - nice to see the girls visiting the rescuers.

I've walked their route dozens of times and when it's been a bit rough I've taken the route up across the bridge near the signal gantry to avoid the waves - last winter I came through after dark and thought it was OK to use the lower walkway but got hit by a big inrush that came up to my knees and a wave that dumped on top of me - luckily I kept my footing and ran like hell towards Dawlish where I dried out.