VOLUNTEER lifeguards took part in the dramatic rescue of a woman whose heart stopped beating after she paddled in the sea.

Exmouth Beach Rescue Club was practising training exercises yesterday at around 11.30am when a member of the public alerted them to a woman who had collapsed on the beach.

When club members arrived at the scene the woman, thought to be in her early 60s, was not breathing and had no pulse.

Senior club members administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while emergency services were called. The Devon Air Ambulance was alerted and junior members of the club, which is based at the Foxholes car park, cleared the beach so it could land.

When the helicopter arrived on the scene about five minutes later, the woman's heart was beating and her condition had improved.

Founder member of the club Nigel Snowshall was one of the first people on the scene, and performed the CPR with the help of Sarah Beresford.

"In the summer months we conduct regular patrols but at this time of year we are often out training," Mr Snowshall said.

"When club members arrived she had no pulse and the work that was done on the patient improved her situation. When she left the beach she was on a ventilator to help her breathe but her heart was beating and her condition had improved."

Mr Snowshall, a 43-year-old firefighter, said being able to assist in this way was why he had helped found the club 24 years ago.

"We had around 14 junior members of the club with us and they were able to assist ambulance personnel," he said.

"It was a good opportunity to show them that the club is extremely worthwhile.

"The beach can be a dangerous place and there are so many people on it when the weather is nice, the law of averages dictates that this type of incident does happen."

The beach rescue club is separate from the RNLI and coastguard services and is run entirely by volunteers.

Over the years it has been involved in numerous rescues and in its first year of operation, saved the life of a boy who had become buried under sand.

No one from the Westcountry Ambulance Service was able to provide an update on the rescued woman's condition but it is thought she was taken for treatment at the Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital.