Crew watched woman drown with head trapped between rocks, inquest hears

Emergency crews failed to save Saffron Cole-Nottage because they did not have the current equipment to pull her out of the water in time (Picture: EAST ANGLIA NEWS SERVICE)

Emergency services failed to rescue a woman who drowned after her head was trapped between two rocks as they lacked the proper equipment, an inquest heard.

Saffron Cole-Nottage died after becoming trapped between sea defence rocks while walking her dog on the Esplanade in Lowestoft, Suffolk in February 2025.

Coastguard and ambulance staff arrived on the scene but said no attempt was made to rescue the 32-year-old because they were not wearing PPE.

Firefighter Jason Wilkins said the team were unable to save Ms Cole-Nottage because they ‘had no equipment with them and it would go against their policy to go down without equipment’....