A woman was taken to hospital after her heart stopped beating while she was out at sea.

Volunteer lifeguards with Exmouth Beach Rescue Club were 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. She was then taken to Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital.

Club founder Nigel Snowshall said: "In the summer months we conduct regular patrols but at this time of year we are often out training."

"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."