Exmouth RNLI rescued four men thrown into rough sea at Exmouth on Sunday.

The inshore lifeboat crew was called at around 4.30pm after concerned members of the public raised the alarm after spotting a rigid inflatable boat flip over near the sandbar, tossing those onboard into high waves.

The men swam to their upturned craft and were rescued by the volunteer lifeboat crew.

The RNLI said large waves breaking over the stricken vessel resulted in one of the rescued swimming to the lifeboat.

Dangerous conditions meant the upturned boat could not be recovered.

Inshore lifeboat Helmsman Roger Jackson said: “It was as rough a sea as we had launched into for quite some time.

“Conditions off the bar were highly treacherous with steep and confused seas with waves of up to three metres at times.”

The casualties were taken to waiting paramedics back on shore.

An RNLI spokesperson said: “The inshore lifeboat was quickly launched but the conditions were such that the lifeboat was nearly working to its limits.

The all-weather lifeboat was also launched to stand by and assist in case things deteriorated further.”