Coastguards promote app which can pinpoint exact location

Coastguards are encouraging walkers and those enjoying the coast to use the 'What3Words' app so they can be easily found in the event of an emergency.

The app can be used on smartphones and will hep coastguards locate casualties as quickly as possible, within three metres of their position.

The advice to use the app comes as coastguards from Lyme Regis and Beer were called out on Saturday evening to assist the ambulance service.

A walker on the seven-mile Undercliff path between Lyme Regis and Seaton had been stung by a wasp and suffered immediate anaphylactic shock, which can be very serious if note treated quickly.

On arrival, coastguards found the ambulance but no crew and started heading west to the grid reference which had been provided.

After an unsuccessful, extensive search to the west, the ambulance crew and the casualty were eventually located to the east. After treatment, the casualty was able to return home.

Coastguards commented: "In this instance, the time taken to reach the casualty by the emergency services would have been dramatically reduced by the use of the smartphone app What3Words (W3W).

"We would encourage everybody to download What3Words and this will help us find you quickly as it will indicate your position to within three metres."

Stay safe this summer – anyone in trouble on the coast, cliffs, beaches or tidal rivers should dial 999 and cask for the coastguards.

For more details on the What3Words app, click here.