Paignton, Preston and Broadsands beaches in Torbay, Devon, had to be closed and roads to the beaches were sealed off. Coastguard officials, police and even deckchair attendants were drafted in to tend the injured, with 30 people taken to Torbay Hospital. Torbay council said the incident was "classed as a total emergency operation". A fleet of 14 ambulances, including an air ambulance, were called into action.
All the injured suffered cuts to their feet after standing on the shells of dead razor fish, which were buried in the sand. Because of the hot weather there were extreme tides which had caused the sea to go out much further than usual. It meant that people were paddling in areas that were not usually accessible, the Brixham Coastguard said.
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