EMERGENCY services have been praised following the rescue of a couple trapped in a quarry at Beesands.

The couple, believed to be in their 50s, from South Brent, were walking the South West Coast Path from Torcross to Start Point when they became stuck about 100ft up Beesands Quarry.

Coastguard rescue teams from Prawle and Dartmouth were also involved in the rescue just before midday on Friday.

An RAF helicopter from RMB Chivenor airlifted the couple to safety in a swift, safe rescue.

Paramedics from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust checked the shocked couple over, but they were physically uninjured.

Families on the beach at Beesands were moved to safety while the helicopter rescue crew winched the man and woman to the top of the cliff.

Alistair Parkes and his wife Lorna were on holiday to the area and happened to be sat on the beach with their three children at the time of the incident.

The family, from Richmond, were very impressed with the actions that the RMB Chivenor Sea King helicopter took to rescue the couple.

Mr Parkes said: 'We were sat at the east end of Beesands, directly beneath the cliffs when we heard the helicopter approaching. As it came towards us, you could hear the motorblade thumping the air.

'The coastguards were on the scene within minutes and asked us to step back.

'Meanwhile as the helicopter made it's initial approach it dropped a smoke canister, which we realised afterwards was to get the wind direction. It then circled the field behind the quarry and came back to the cliff to start the rescue.

'The pilot pinpointed the position, which he held all the time they were there.

'It was amazing.

'The winchman dropped down to rescue the people and lifted them up out of the quarry, and they were taken to the field behind, where paramedics and an ambulance were waiting.

'It was typical of the Forces. They do what they do with real excellence. It made a big impression on my three children. The crew even waved to them as they left the scene. It was truly impressive work undertaken by them.'