Teenagers trapped by the tide near Whitby winched to safety by RAF Sea King helicopter (From York Press)

Teenagers trapped by the tide near Whitby winched to safety by RAF Sea King helicopter

10:11am Wednesday 10th March 2010 in

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THESE were the dramatic scenes when two teenagers were winched to safety from a cliff ledge, with waves crashing below them.

The pair became trapped on the ledge at Whitby while fossil hunting, after the tide came in without them realising.

They were spotted by a lifeboat crew, but the off-shore boat could not get to them because the water was too shallow and too rough for the small inshore boat.

Instead, an RAF Sea King helicopter was called in and the teenagers were eventually winched to safety.

Colin Massy, a pilot from RAF Boulmer said: “The boys were cold, wet and a bit shaken-up, but not hypothermic.

“They were very fortunate as the situation was very precarious.”