A 'beautiful' mother of three tragically drowned after becoming trapped between giant boulders in a sea defence wall, with witnesses describing a prolonged wait for emergency services, an inquest has heard.
Incident Details
Saffron Cole-Nottage, 32, lost her life after slipping and falling, becoming stuck head-down during a rising tide beneath the Esplanade in Lowestoft, Suffolk. The incident occurred in February 2025 while she was walking her dog with her daughter.
Suffolk Coroner's Court was informed that an initial 999 call was made at 7.52pm, but the fire service was not mobilised until 8.10pm, an 18-minute delay. Meanwhile, members of the public desperately tried to assist Ms Cole-Nottage, but by the time rescue crews freed her, she was unresponsive.
Inquest Proceedings
Area Coroner Mr Darren Stewart OBE stated that the hearing, expected to conclude next Friday (May 15), will examine the emergency services' response and prioritisation decisions, as reported by the Eastern Daily Press.
Ms Cole-Nottage was described as 'bubbly, fun and full of life', a beloved daughter, sister, and mother who 'gave just as much love as she received'.
Witness Accounts
Witness evidence recounted the harrowing moment passers-by rushed to help after hearing screams. One witness described in written evidence how he saw a man running to where she had fallen. The two men observed her legs protruding from the rocks where she had fallen head-first and become wedged between boulders. Despite their efforts and the assistance of a third person, they could not free her.
A second man recalled the distressing realisation that Ms Cole-Nottage had become unresponsive as the tide rose.
A third witness stated it 'felt like an eternity' for emergency services to arrive. The Mirror previously reported that Ms Cole-Nottage's 11-year-old daughter, who was with her mother when she slipped, desperately tried to help alongside the two men.
Community Reaction
Following her death, devastated friends questioned how such a freak accident could occur. Locals likened the coastal path conditions to an 'ice rink' at the time. One friend remarked: 'Everyone is in disbelief. She was with her 11-year-old daughter. They were walking along. Jess was holding the dog and Saff fell. Apparently the temperature dropped and the surface became like ice. She slipped.'
The inquest is scheduled to continue tomorrow.
