KITEsurfers off Bantham beach rescued two women surfers after they got into trouble in strong rip currents.

Kitesurfer Ramsey Allen towed one of the girls to safety while other kitesurfers helped the other to the shore. The alarm was raised and the two women were airlifted to Derriford Hospital on Sunday, by a Royal Navysearch and rescue helicopter from Culdrose.

Ria James, the wife of one of the kitesurfers, said: 'Kitesurfers and surfers get a bad press and they are always seen to be unco-operative but this was a joint effort to rescue the girls and the bravery on show was incredible. The waves were enormous and there was definitely a threat to their lives.

'Standing on the beach watching, I was terrified it would all end in tragedy but luckily everyone was okay'.

One of the team from South Devon Kite Surfing Club was a doctor and he checked the girls at the lifeguard station over before the ambulance teams got there and they were airlifted.

Hope Cove and Bigbury Coastguard rescue teams, along with Salcombe RNLI lifeboat, attended the scene.