Kite-flyer dragged into raging sea

By [dwells]

CONDITIONS may have been just right for windsurfers, but a man flying his kite is lucky to be alive after being knocked unconscious and dragged into the sea in gale force winds yesterday.

The man was only rescued because a passer-by at Bigbury, South Devon, raised the alarm.

The drama took place as extreme weather caused chaos around the country, with force 10 gales tearing down trees. Leaves blocked drains, causing flooding in some areas.

Brixham Coastguard said the man was flying a large kite on the beach at 10.20am when a particularly strong gust took hold of the kite. He was dragged over hard ground and knocked unconscious as he was pulled into the sea.

A witness raised the alarm and the Bigbury Coastguard, Salcombe RNLI, the air ambulance and Portland rescue helicopter responded. The man was rescued and taken to Derriford Hospital with a suspected punctured lung.

A spokesman for Brixham Coastguard said yesterday: "He was very lucky that there was someone around to report it. If you are taking in any activity by the sea, let friends or family know and be mindful of weather conditions."

About 3,000 homes across Devon and Cornwall were hit by power cuts after falling trees brought down electricity cables.

Most were around Redruth in Cornwall, but around 400 properties in Exeter were affected.

A spokesman for Western Power Distribution said: "We brought in extra control room staff but in the event, we got off fairly lightly."

Last night, the Met Office's severe weather warning expired, but a flood watch alert remained on the River Axe in East Devon.

Met Office forecaster Andrew Sibley said the unsettled weather would remain for several days. He added: "Winter is definitely on its way now."