Three people were taken to hospital following the incident on Saturday afternoon
A woman has sadly died following an incident at a beach in Co Down on Saturday.
The woman, reportedly aged in her 60s, is understood to have got into difficulty in the water at Helen’s Bay beach yesterday afternoon.
A HM Coastguard helicopter Rescue 936 from Caernarfon Wales, Bangor and Portaferry Coastguard teams and Bangor RNLI inshore lifeboat attended the incident at Helen’s Bay along with the PSNI.
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In a statement, the Coastguard said several onlookers attempted to rescue the trio – with one person entering the water. They had asked anyone at the scene, who was affected by the incident, to contact them.
In a statement, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it received an emergency call shortly after 1pm on Saturday.
A spokesperson said: “Two emergency ambulance crews, a rapid response paramedic, a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), a critical care paramedic and an ambulance officer were dispatched to the scene.
“Following treatment at the scene two patients were taken to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald and one to Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.”
Offering his condolences, North Down MP Alex Easton said he was “deeply saddened” over the woman’s death.
He added: “My thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. I know the wider community will also be shocked by this very sad news.
“I want to pay tribute to the members of the public who bravely attempted to help, and to the emergency services who responded so quickly and professionally — including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Coastguard teams, RNLI, police, and all those involved in the rescue effort.
“Helen’s Bay is a place many families cherish, which makes this loss all the more heartbreaking. I would urge everyone to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers and to respect their privacy as they grieve.
“This tragic incident is a reminder of how quickly emergencies can arise around our coastline, and I encourage everyone to take care when visiting our beaches.”
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