A major emergency response was launched at Fistral Beach in Newquay on Sunday evening after a man and woman were recovered from the water, with both later pronounced dead at the scene.
A man and a woman have died after being pulled from the water at a beach in Cornwall. Emergency services were called to Fistral Beach, Newquay, at around 9.45pm on Sunday, following reports that two people had been recovered from the sea. Despite efforts from a multi-agency rescue operation, both were pronounced deceased at the scene. Their families have since been informed, and a file is being prepared for HM Coroner.
The rescue operation
HM Coastguard said it was first alerted to the incident at around 9.30pm, with emergency resources deployed immediately following reports of people in difficulty in the water. The response involved HM Coastguard rescue teams from Newquay, Padstow and St Agnes, Newquay RNLI lifeboats, a Coastguard rescue helicopter, along with ambulance crews and police.
Witnesses at the scene reported seeing at least nine emergency vehicles, two lifeboats and a rescue helicopter responding to the incident. A police cordon was put in place while emergency services worked at the scene, and was later removed that evening once officers had completed their initial enquiries.
Police statement
A spokeswoman for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were called by the South Western Ambulance Service at around 9.45pm on Sunday 26 July 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.”
What happens next
Police have not yet released the identities, ages or hometowns of the man and woman, pending formal identification and the notification of all next of kin. There is no indication at this stage that the deaths are being treated as suspicious, with the matter now being referred to HM Coroner as standard procedure.
