Saffron Cole-Nottage became trapped underwater when she fell between two big sea defence boulders in Lowestoft, Suffolk, all while her daughter desperately fought to save her
11:16, 07 Mar 2025Updated 18:39, 07 Mar 2025
A mum who was out walking her dog with her daughter died after becoming trapped underwater when she fell down a gap between sea defence boulders.
Saffron Cole-Nottage lost her footing after slipping on a path at the base of the sea wall in Lowestoft, Suffolk and then fell again as she tried to pull herself up, an inquest into her death heard today. The coroner heard she plunged between giant boulders and landed underwater as the tide was rising on the evening of Sunday, February 2. Her daughter and members of the public battled in vain to pull 32-year-old Saffron out of the rocks, but she remained trapped until she was lifted out by emergency services.
The mother-of-three who lived in the town was later declared dead, despite attempts to revive her. Local residents speaking at the time of her death likened the path to an "ice rink" as it was so slippery due to it being covered in algae. The inquest at Suffolk Coroner's Court in Ipswich was opened and adjourned in a five minute hearing, and will be concluded at a later date.
Senior inquest officer Paul Sermons read a statement: "During the evening of February 2, Saffron and her daughter were walking heir dog along a narrow coastal path next to the sea defence rocks at Lowestoft sea front. Whilst walking, Saffron lost her footing and slipped, landing on the pathway. Although Saffron managed to get herself up, she slipped and landed with her head between the sea defence rocks. Saffron became trapped in the rocks and partly submerged in the water with the tide rising. Attempts to free Saffron were made by her daughter and members of the public. Police, fire, coastguard and ambulance services attended and although they managed to free Saffron from the rocks, she tragically died."
A post mortem was carried out on Friday, February 7 by Dr Rajesh Logasundaram, but the result was not disclosed during the hearing. Suffolk coroner Nigel Parsley said: "In relation to the sad death of Saffron Cole-Nottage, I will open the inquest into her death. This will be adjourned for further work to be completed."
A friend of Ms Cole-Nottage who asked not to be named said at the time of her death: "I believe she was out with her dog and was walking on the path when she slipped and got trapped. I think she had one daughter with her. It must have been horrific." A 65-year-old man who has lived in Lowestoft all his life added: "Nobody is supposed to go down to that path. There is a barrier with a sign stopping people from going along it at one end and a sign at the other. The path is treacherous at any time of day, but even more so at night. It is just so slippery. I went down there once and slipped over. The surface is just like green slime. It is like an ice rink and slippery as hell. If you slip over, you could easily hit the rocks and end up breaking your leg or your neck. There are large gaps between the rocks and the path, and someone could easily tumble down."
Tributes flooded in today for Ms Cole-Nottage who lived with her partner Michael Wheeler and children after moving from Gillingham, Kent. Several bunches of flowers have been left on railings on the Esplanade above the spot where she died, describing her as a "beautiful" mother who would be "forever missed". Trish Butler who knew Ms Cole-Nottage and went to the spot to lay flowers described her as "a beautiful girl inside and out". She added: "She was a lovely girl and a wonderful person, and the life and soul wherever she went."
Ms Cole-Nottage had two daughters, aged 11 and seven, and a baby son born last year One touching tribute among messages left on the railings, said: "My beautiful mummy, I love you the world." Her partner Mr Wheeler left a hand-written message, saying: "My darling Saff, What can I really say. There are no words to express how much we will miss you. The world is so cruel and to take you in this freak horrific way will not sit well with me for the rest of my life. You will be forever missed by so many, and I'm really not sure I'll ever be the same without you. Me and the kids will love you and never forget you. Until we meet again, love always, Mike and the kids."