VOLUNTEERS from the Redcar RNLI lifeboat station were called to assist in the rescue of a woman who collapsed into a diabetic coma on the beach between Marske and Saltburn on Saturday (November 29).

Emergency services were called after the woman was found unconscious one mile from Saltburn pier and when police officers attended the scene they requested the assistance from the RNLI to evacuate the woman.

The lifeboat crew was called just after 3.15pm and, after assessing the sea conditions in the area, two volunteers trained in advanced casualty care travelled to the scene with the coastguard 4x4 which was also responding.

On arrival, the woman was being treated by ambulance staff who had walked along the beach to the woman’s location.

Dave Cocks, from Redcar RNLI said: "Initially it was thought that evacuating the woman by sea would be the quickest option but there was a bit of heavy surf on the shore. We decided it would be safer to send a couple of our team who are trained in advanced casualty care to help get the woman into the coastguard’s 4x4 vehicle instead.

‘Fortunately when we arrived the ambulance crew had done a good job of getting the woman’s sugar levels back up and she was responsive enough to be helped into the coastguard vehicle and be taken along the beach to the ambulance which was waiting at Saltburn.

‘It appears that she was diabetic and had suffered a hypoglycemic attack, resulting in very low blood sugar levels and eventually unconsciousness."