London - Four people were winched to safety by helicopter last night from the wave-battered cave where they had been trapped for almost five hours. Those saved were a father and his 11-year-old son and two lifeboatman who had themselves become trapped while trying to rescue them from the cave, near Tintagel, Cornwall.
The father and son and one lifeboatman were reported to have minor injuries; the other man was unhurt.
It appears the incident started when the 11-year-old boy got into difficulties while surfing off the beach. He was swept out to sea in the heavy swell, his father went into the water to rescue him and together they reached the apparent safety of a sea cave.