A French couple have been rescued after falling from rocks and being washed into a cave at Plemont by the rising tide.
Jersey Fire and Rescue crew battled challenging conditions through a narrow cave entrance to pull the pair to safety.
The woman had slipped into the sea, and her husband had jumped in to try to save her.
She suffered a broken wrist. Both were treated for shock and exposure.
The alarm was raised by staff at the Plemont Cafe, who captured this footage of the emergency response.
Big well done to the Rescue Service today at Plémont you all done a fantastic job saving two tourists who fell of the rockets and got washed into the caves as high tide was approaching well done 👍🙏🙏
Posted by Plemont Beach Cafe on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Jersey Coastguard received the 999 call just after 4.30pm on Thursday (26 May)
The JFRS Inshore boat was launched from Greve de Lecq in a two-metre swell.
Once on the scene, communications with the Coastguard had to go through Guernsey because of the poor reception.
The crew navigated a tricky manoeuvre using the anchor and line and powering astern into the narrow cave entrance.
"We can keep the bow of the boat facing the waves so the boat does not get swamped with water, we can also maintain tension on the anchor line, so we don't get washed onto rocks" - Crew Commander Le Maistre.
Once in position deep in the cave, one of the crew swam in with life jackets and recovered the couple.
They were taken to Greve de Lecq to be met by waiting paramedics.
After receiving an emergency call from Jersey coastguard just after 4.30pm the combined control room despatched the Fire and Rescue Service Inshore rescue boat with the crew launching in challenging conditions at Greve De Lecq in a 2 meter swell. The boat and crew steamed around to Plemont bay where the emergency call had been placed by the Plemont Café staff who'd been alerted to a French couple washed up in the cave with a fast upcoming tide. A lady had slipped from rocks into the sea and received a broken wrist, her husband had then jumped in to save her and both were washed up into the cave. Quickly arriving on scene at Plemont and after communicating with waiting Fire service, Ambulance, and coastguard personnel. Communications with Jersey coastguard had to be relayed through Guernsey coastguard due to poor reception. The Inshore rescue boat carried out a tricky veering down manoeuvre which involves using the anchor and line and powering astern into the narrow cave entrance. Crew Commander Le Maistre said "using this method we can keep the bow of the boat facing the waves so the boat does not get swamped with water, we can also maintain tension on the anchor line, so we don't get washed on to rocks" Once holding in position deep in the cave one of the crew swam in with life jackets and rescued the two causalities into the rescue boat. The crew then proceeded out to safety and after retrieving the rescue boat at Greve De Lecq, handed the couple who were suffering with exposure and shock over to waiting paramedics who treated them for their injuries.
Posted by Jersey Fire & Rescue on Thursday, May 26, 2022
Lucy Jordan from the Plemont Cafe told Channel 103:
"(The rescuers) were so calm about it. The waves were massive and they had to go backwards with the boat.
They tied the rope onto the rocks and they went in and it took them a while, and it was really, really nerve-racking standing there watching it."
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