The woman was pulled from the sea at The Leas (photo by Max Hess) Onlookers who refused to get out of the way of a rescue helicopter trying to land on a Kent beach were risking decapitation, coastguards have said. A 49-year-old woman was eventually airlifted to hospital after being saved from the sea at Folkestone on Saturday. Spike Hughes, of Dover Coastguard said the rescue was hampered by people who refused to move to a safe distance. He said it was madness people wanted to get so close, because a helicopter's blades can kill. Mr Hughes added: "What we had to try and do with our team is actually to clear that particular area for them to land. It is absolute madness because the blades rotate so fast they can decapitate people

Spike Hughes, Dover Coastguard "My team down there went into the area and asked a lot of people if they would move out of the area. "The problem was there were a few people that didn't want to take note of what we were staying and decided to stay in the area. "It is absolute madness because the blades rotate so fast they can decapitate people. It's just stupidity that people want to get so close to it." The woman was pulled from the water by two members of the public who went to her aid after she got into difficulties at about 1500 BST on Saturday. She was treated by paramedics on the beach at The Leas and then airlifted to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford for treatment. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Advertisement



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