05 February 2025 , 17:55
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A mother died after getting trapped between sea defence boulders while walking on a seafront path referred to as an ‘ice rink’ by locals.
Saffron Cole-Nottage, 32, is believed to have lost her footing while out walking her dog along the sea front on Sunday night while accompanied by her daughter.
The 32-year-old reportedly died in front of horrified rescuers as a massive operation tried in vain to save her.
Residents believe the freak accident occurred when Ms Cole-Nottage was walking along the path running along the bottom of the sea wall on the seafront.
Floral tributes on Lowestoft seafront near where Saffron Cole-Nottage died (Picture: SWNS)
Signs either end of the path warn people to stay off the boulders and not to walk on the section of beach under the town’s Esplanade, saying that ‘access is restricted’.
But anyone can easily ignore the signs and step over a barrier at one end of the path. The other end just has a sign stuck in the sand with no fencing or barrier to stop people from passing.
A friend of Ms Cole-Nottage who asked not to be named said: ‘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 said: ‘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.’
Child services worker Sean Evans, 44, of Lowestoft, said: ‘The path is extra slippery because it is underwater at high tide.
‘The rocks are also underwater sometimes and the waves can be vicious as well. I wouldn’t walk along it.
‘I went down a similar path beside some other rocks further along the front when I was going fishing and it was treacherous. It felt like an ice rink and I felt it was too dangerous to stay there.’
A resident whose home overlooks the scene said they realised something was wrong when they heard the East Anglian Air Ambulance landing on the beach.
He said: ‘There were blue flashing lights, and I saw Coastguard vehicles, police and ambulances along the front. I realised it was something serious.
‘It is hard to think how such an awful thing happened. I can only assume that she was on the path under the sea wall and somehow fell.
Freinds and family have left tributes to Saffrpon on socila media (Picture: Facebook)
‘I have heard of people getting stuck in the rocks before. I sometimes, see people climbing over them, but they are very dangerous.’
Following news of her death, flowers and tributes have been left near the scene, paying tribute to ‘beautiful Saff’ who will be ‘forever missed.’
Trish Butler, who knew Ms Cole-Nottage and went to the spot to lay flowers today 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.’
A bouquet left at the scene by Tricia and partner Barry read: ‘Rest in peace beautiful girl. So tragically taken, far too soon.’
Ms Cole-Nottage is believed to have 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.”
Another bouquet at the scene from past and present members of the Gillingham Ladies Darts League, said: ‘Dear Saff, Can’t believe this is real. We hold fond memories of you with much love.’
One more emotional message said: ‘Your lights shined bright down here and you’ll shine bright up there too – forever 32.”
Yet another said: ‘To Saff, I never really told you how much I love you and how much you will be missed. I thank you for everything you have done for me.’
Online tributes also flooded in on social media, including one which said ‘rest in paradise Saff’.
Another said: ‘My beautiful bestie forever 32 the light to my everything I will miss u forever and always – the pain hurts so much, love you Saffron Cole-Nottage.’
A police spokesman said: ‘Suffolk Constabulary was called at around 8.03pm on Sunday night, by the ambulance service, to an incident on the coast off The Esplanade in the town.
‘A woman, aged in her 30s, sadly died at the scene.’
Police said the death is currently being treated as unexplained, but there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances at this time.
A file is now being completed for the coroner.