A mom has died after getting trapped between rocks on a coastal path. Medics found her underwater upon arrival.
Saffron drowned after being trapped in boulders along the sea wall in a Suffolk town. One tribute said, “My beautiful mummy, I love you”. She walked her dog with her daughter, aged 11, and fell into a gap between the sea rocks last Sunday afternoon.
Emergency services rushed to help her, including the coastguard, police, and medics. This took place on the Lowestoft seafront. Saffron was underwater and unresponsive. This update came for the Lowestoft Journal, and a debriefing will involve all emergency services to discuss what happened.
Rescuers tried to free Saffron that Sunday, as the tide was coming in, making it urgent. Local people witnessed she walked on the seafront path before the freak accident happened. Saffron had her third child recently, and her other children are Jessica, 11, and Jasmine, 7.
Signs warn people to stay off the rocks and not walk on the beach below the Esplanade. Despite the signs, the area is open, and people can ignore the signs if they want. They can step over a barrier at one end, while the other end has a sign in the sand; no fence stops people.
A friend said she walked her dog on the path, slipped, then got trapped between rocks. The friend believed her daughter was with her. A local man, aged 65, stated nobody should use that path: there is a barrier, plus a sign at one end, and only a sign at the other.
The man said the path is treacherous and slippery, like an ice rink. Slipping could cause broken bones, and large gaps exist between the rocks. People could easily fall through.
Sean Evans, a child services worker, said the rocks become slippery. High tide covers parts of the path, and waves can also be strong there. He would not walk along that path, and felt it was a very dangerous place.
Tributes poured in for Saffron Cole-Nottage. She lived in Lowestoft with her kids and partner, having moved from Gillingham, Kent. Flowers were left on the Esplanade, and they called her a beautiful mom who will be missed forever.
Trish Butler knew Saffron. She laid flowers there, too. Trish described her as beautiful inside, and said she was a lovely person. A card read, “Rest in peace beautiful girl”, and revealed Saffron had two daughters and a son.
One message said, “My beautiful mummy, I love you”. Her partner wrote a message, saying words can’t show how much they’ll miss her, and he felt the world was cruel. He doesn’t understand why he thinks about the cruel accident, and he and the kids will always love her.
A message from a darts league also paid tribute, saying it fondly remembers the fond memories with much love. Another message said that her light shined bright, and continued stating that it will shine up there too also. Another said he never told Saffron he loves her, plus, he knows how much she will be missed.
Social media tributes flooded in. One said, “Rest in paradise Saff.” Another called her their best friend, said they felt lots of pain with her loss, and will always love Saffron Cole-Nottage.
Police went to the coast at 8:03 PM last Sunday by The Esplanade. The woman was declared dead there, and the death is being treated as unexplained. Police will not investigate further.
Fire services also gave a statement. They said they shared condolences with the family. The crew helped in the rescue, which took place under paramedic care. A formal debrief is standard; it happens with incidents like this death.