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Coroner Examines Emergency Services Response in Lowestoft Drowning Inquest

The coroner is probing a five-minute dispatch delay by fire crews at the Suffolk seafront.

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Overview

  • On February 2, Saffron Cole-Nottage slipped on algae-covered concrete beneath the Esplanade boulders in Lowestoft and became trapped as the tide rose.
  • At a pre-inquest review on June 6, Suffolk Area Coroner Darren Stewart OBE highlighted a possible five-minute gap between initial fire service contact and the dispatch of firefighters.
  • Stewart said he will investigate inconsistencies in communications among ambulance, coastguard and fire services during the rescue attempt.
  • Evidence from the victim’s daughter, bystanders and emergency crews will inform inquiries into whether warning signs or barriers could have prevented access to the rocks.
  • The next pre-inquest hearing is scheduled for later in 2025 with a full inquest set for early 2026.