A MYSTERY teenager involved in a dramatic sea-rescue on Monday evening (May 10) was still refusing to give her name yesterday.

Blackpool RNLI inshore lifeboat plucked the young woman, who looked about 16, unconscious from the waves and transferred her to the Lancashire police helicopter which had landed on the beach.

Yesterday (May 12) she was still being treated at Royal Preston Hospital, but, said a police spokesman: "She's not giving her name or any other details and she's not saying how she got in the water or why, but she's being seen by social services as well as the doctors and she's obviously in the right place to get the help she needs."

The young woman suffered oxygen starvation and inhalation of seawater before her rescue which started when passers-by spotted her fully clothed and floating face down in the water about 6.30pm opposite the Foxhall pub on Central Promenade.

Three men waded in to try to help until the emergency services arrived, co-ordinated by Liverpool Coastguard who launched teams from Lytham and Blackpool RNLI. Blackpool RNLI crew member Colin Lowe got into the water to hold her head up until she was hauled aboard and taken ashore, where paramedics battled to clear her airways before the helicopter dash.

Liverpool Coastguard watch manager Ged Lynch said: "Thanks to the swift response from both the public and emergency services a tragedy was avoided. This again underlines the importance of public awareness that the Coastguard is part of the 999 network."

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