Two girls were thrown from a boat in Salcombe Harbour and damaged two other vessels, as they were not using a killcord.

Salcombe RNLI were launched to the scene on Friday night, Saturday morning at around 12.30am, after two 17-year-old girls crashed a boat, damaging two others, but escaped without injury.

Neither girl was wearing a lifejacket or wearing a kill cord - which cuts the engine if the driver leaves the vessel - but were found safe on the shore after being thrown from the boat.

Police were called and the two girls were interviewed, but as the boat belonged to one of the girl’s parents, no police action was required and it has been left to the insurance companies.

A witness said that he suspected the first impact with a moored boat caused enough damage the RIB began to take on water, and the engine stopped shortly after crashing into a second vessel, preventing a Padstow-like accident where the boat, and propellors, continue moving without anyone on board.

This is the first such incident in Salcombe in the last twelve years.