A WOMAN who was stranded overnight in a cave was rescued by the RNLI after a major search.

The coastguard officers for the area have reminded people to make sure they tell people where they are going and have the right equipment after an extensive search for the woman.

The search began late on Saturday evening (December 17), after the 50-year-old failed to return home after a planned walk from Minehead to Porlock via North Hill.

The HM Coastguard Search and Rescue Team from Watchet, together with special constables from the area, police officers, a police dog handler and the Exmoor Search and Rescue Team were asked by the police to assist with the search at 10.30pm.

The Lynmouth Coastguard Team and the Coastguard Seach and Rescue Helicopter from St Athan in Wales were also called to help with the search which was scaled back at 4am due to weather conditions and the teams were then recalled at 5am to rest before resuming the search on Sunday morning.

Minehead’s RNLI lifeboats were launched at first light to join the operation and within minutes crews spotted the woman on rocks at Hurlestone Point.

She was taken off by Minehead’s D class lifeboat and transferred to the station’s Atlantic 85, taken back to Minehead and checked over by the station’s operations manager Dr John Higgie.

He said the woman, who lives in Porlock, was cold but otherwise none the worse for her all-night ordeal.

He said: “She is an experienced walker and often uses this section of the coast path.

“Unfortunately just as it was getting dark last night she slipped and fell a few feet, but she decided to do the sensible thing and stay where she was and wait for help to come.”

But Simon Bale, the coastguard rescue officer for Watchet has reminded people to stay safe while on walks.

He said: “This incident ended up with a positive outcome but reinforces the need to always inform someone of where you are going, especially if walking alone, a planned route left with someone with start and finish times and ideally the use of a mobile phone for emergency contact or in extreme locations the carrying of a personal location beacon (PLB).

“Advice on hillwalking or coastal walks can be obtained from the British Mountaineering Council and the Ramblers Association.”