A COAST walker’s mobile phone losing its signal triggered a major operation by three rescue teams, the lifeboat and a helicopter yesterday afternoon.
The experienced solo walker was due to be met in Porlock at an arranged time but failed to turn up. It turned out that there was a misunderstanding between the pair as to their meeting place.
Their companion waited but was so concerned that they called the police who called on the coastguard for help because of the coastal terrain.
They searched along the South West Coast Path and the missing walker’s mobile phone was triangulated for the last signal, which showed it within the coastal area of Bossington and Porlock.
Meanwhile, the two helicopters were searching a wide area of the sea.
Then a message was received from the walker who had almost reached Lynmouth. Lack of service on their phone meant they had been unable call any earlier and had been unaware that they were the subject of a missing person search.
The police helicopter spotted the walker close to Lynmouth where coastguards reunited the walker with their companion.
A coastguard spokesman said: “This was a call with good intent, as there was genuine concern for the overdue walker, due to the terrain and potential for an accident to have happened, mixed with the fact there was no phone signal.
“However the end destination between the walker and their partner appeared to be different.
“This is where leaving a route card with the home contact of person collecting or meeting a walker or group is a good idea, so start and finish times are known, with clear routes for the emergency services to follow in the event of an incident.”
Anyone who sees someone in distress, or is concerned for someone on the coastline or at sea, should dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard.