A man and woman who died in the sea off Britain’s most famous surfing beach are feared to have fallen from rocks into choppy waters while holidaying in Cornwall.
Witnesses to the tragedy claim the victims may have been a father and daughter who were walking at Fistral, Newquay.
The man, in his 60s, and the woman, in her 30s, were pronounced dead at the scene on Sunday evening.
The sea was said to be very rough last night, with strong winds causing large waves to break against the rocks.
It came as another man died after getting into difficulties at West Wittering in West Sussex yesterday.
Sand Phoenix said he was sleeping on Fistral Beach at 9.30pm on Sunday when the coastguard and ambulance service were called. He sprinted to help with the search.
Sand claimed the male victim was fully clothed and had ‘gone in to try and rescue his daughter’, adding: ‘He had been pulled from the water but had been submerged for about seven minutes.
‘I had an adrenaline pen, which I used on him, and tried to give him oxygen, but his lungs were full of water and there was no response,’ he said.
‘The paramedics arrived and carried on performing CPR. He was still wearing his trousers, so I don’t think he had been swimming. It looks like they had been walking near the rocks and fallen in.’
Another witness said: ‘Another man came up soaking wet and wrapped in a foil blanket. He knew them and had been trying to help. I’m just in shock. It was awful to watch.
‘A man came running up the cliff saying there were people drowning in the water. A woman was desperately trying to ring someone but couldn’t get through and was in tears.
‘They recovered one body on the beach, while the other was brought up the cliff.’
Coastguard and locals rushed to save the man and woman in the water at Fistral last night but both died. It is claimed they may have been father and daughter who fell from rocks into the sea
A helicopter swoops in to help with the rescue at around 9.30pm
Coastguard at the scene at Fistral last night after two people died in the water
A man and woman have died after being pulled from the sea at Fistral beach, Newquay. Witnesses claim they may have been walking on rocks or a cliff and fell in
Nine emergency vehicles and a helicopter rushed to the long and sandy Cornish beach, known as the ‘home of British surfing’.
Images from Fistral last night showed people crowding on the sands trying to help with the rescue effort. But tragically the two people in the water perished.
A spokesman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: ‘Police were called by the South Western Ambulance Service at around 9.45pm on Sunday following reports that two people had been recovered from the water at Fistral Beach, Newquay.
‘Emergency services attended and a cordon was put in place, which has since been removed.
‘Sadly, a man and a woman were pronounced deceased at the scene. Their families have been informed, and our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time. A file will be prepared for HM Coroner.’
The tragedy came just hours after a man died and another was taken to hospital after getting into trouble in the water at another popular British beach on the south coast.
The temperature in West Wittering reached highs of 26.5C in the afternoon. In Newquay, a maximum temperature of 20.2C was recorded by the Met Office.
Emergency services rushed to West Wittering Beach in West Sussex at 2.30pm on Sunday following concerns for the safety of two adults in the water.
Two men were pulled from the sea by rescuers but one was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
The other man was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure. The pair are not believed to have known each other.
In a statement, Sussex Police said: ‘Emergency services were called to the beach near the Beach Café, Pound Road, West Wittering, around 2.30pm on Sunday, 26 July, after two adults got into difficulty in the water.
‘Both were pulled from the sea and received treatment from emergency services at the scene.
‘Sadly, one of the men was pronounced dead at the scene.
‘The other man has been taken to hospital as a precaution.
‘The men are not believed to be known to each other.
‘Next of kin have been informed and the matter has been passed to the coroner’s officer.’
Coastguards and paramedics were pictured on the beach at West Wittering on Sunday afternoon where two more people died.
In a post on social media, West Wittering Beach administrators said: ‘We are deeply saddened to confirm that a 55-year-old man has sadly passed away following an incident at West Wittering Beach.
‘Our lifeguards responded immediately and together with the ambulance service, coastguard and other emergency services, provided advanced first aid and CPR.
‘Despite their best efforts, he was sadly pronounced deceased.
‘The circumstances surrounding this incident are currently being established, and it would be inappropriate to speculate at this time.
‘Our thoughts and sincere condolences are with the man’s family, friends and all those affected by this tragic incident. We would like to thank our lifeguards, emergency service colleagues and members of the public who assisted during the response.
‘We respectfully ask that the privacy of the family is respected at this incredibly difficult time.’
Meanwhile in Kent a man and two children remain in hospital in a stable condition after getting into difficulty in the sea off the coast of its most famous resort.
Emergency services descended on Margate Main Sands at about 4.30pm on Saturday following reports of three people struggling in the water.
A huge multi-agency response was launched, with an air ambulance and a coastguard helicopter both landing directly on the sand near the town’s tidal pool.
Dozens of police vehicles, land ambulances, and specialist incident response teams lined the seafront as they received emergency medical treatment on the beach.
All three were airlifted to hospital for further treatment.
It has now been confirmed all three remain in hospital in a stable condition.
A police spokesman said: ‘Kent Police was called at 4.36pm on Saturday, July 25, to a report that a man and two children had come into difficulty in the sea at Margate, and were receiving medical treatment at the scene.
‘Officers attended to manage traffic in the area and to allow an air ambulance and coastguard helicopter to land.
‘The three casualties were all taken to hospital for further treatment and remain there in a stable condition.’
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