Man and woman die in Cornwall after being swept out to sea during storm

Pair were on the harbour wall at picturesque Mullion Cove

Waves cased by Storm Ellen strike the National Trust-owned harbour on August 21, 2020 at Mullion Cove, Cornwall, United Kingdom. (Getty Images)

A man and a woman have died after being swept out to sea from a scenic coastal village.

A coastguard helicopter winched a woman in her 20s and man in his 40s out of the water at Mullion Cove, near Helston.

However, they were both confirmed dead at the Royal Cornwall Hospital Treliske in Truro.

Devon and Cornwall Police said they were called to ther scene at about 7.15pm on Monday.

“Ambulance, Police, HM Coastguard and their helicopter attended,” the force said. 

"A woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s, were recovered from the water by the Coastguard helicopter crew and taken to Treliske hospital.

"Sadly, they were both later confirmed deceased. Their next of kin have been informed.

"The deaths are not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner in due course."

The rescue effort involved two RNLI lifeboats and the Mullion coastguard team.

A spokesperson for Penlee lifeboat conditions at the time were extremely challenging.

They said: "We were launched by HM Coastguard to aid in the search for possible casualties at Mullion harbour.

"The operation included our colleagues from The Lizard RNLI Lifeboat Station, Mullion Coastguard Rescue Team & Porthleven Coastguard Team, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency helicopter.

“The weather was at the limit for the inshore lifeboat with force six winds and a heavy four to five meter swell.”