Elderly woman airlifted off Middleton beach

The rescue of the 81-year-old female was carried out by the Coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent.

It was called into action by paramedics at the scene.

A coastguard spokesman said the situation was described as a near drowning incident. The woman was flown to Worthing Hospital for treatment.

Nearby resident Pam Hornby, who watched the rescue unfold, said: "The woman was winched up to the helicopter on a stretcher from the beach.

"It was very dramatic to see and there were a lot of people watching."

The emergency began about 11.30am on Wednesday, August 19, on the foreshore, close to the most western of the rock islands in front of the Saxon Reach area around Thompson Road.

The helicopter was called in as an alternative to taking the woman off the beach and carrying her along a path to an ambulance before being taken to hospital.

It was the second time in a few weeks the helicopter had been called into action at the same spot.

The previous occasion involved children who had been climbing on the rock islands.

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