Two men have died after going into the water at Seaton Carew beach in Hartlepool in an attempt to rescue two children who had got into difficulty, Cleveland Police have confirmed. Both children have since been taken to hospital as a precaution and are safe, while officers, the RNLI, HM Coastguard and North East Ambulance Service crews all attended the scene on Sunday afternoon.
Emergency services were called to Seaton Carew beach at around 3.45pm on Sunday after two children got into trouble in the sea, prompting two men to enter the water in an attempt to help them. Cleveland Police said both children were brought to safety and taken to hospital to be checked over. The two men, however, were themselves pulled from the water by the RNLI and given medical treatment at the scene, but were pronounced dead a short time later.
Men had been assisting Coastguard rescue effort
According to updates from Cleveland Police, the two men who died were reportedly assisting the Coastguard’s rescue effort when they got into difficulty in the water themselves. Specially trained family liaison officers are now supporting the relatives of both men as they come to terms with the tragedy.
Superintendent Glen Ward said enquiries were under way into the full circumstances of what happened, though the deaths were not being treated as suspicious. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of both the men involved in this tragic incident today,” he said. “Despite the best efforts of emergency services, sadly both men were pronounced dead a short time after being brought out of the sea. We are conducting enquiries into the circumstances of what happened today, although the deaths are not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.”
Renewed warning over open water dangers
The tragedy comes amid a spell of hot weather, which police used as an opportunity to repeat warnings about the risks of entering open water, even when attempting to help someone in trouble. Superintendent Ward acknowledged the temptation posed by the heat, while stressing the dangers involved. “I would like to remind everyone that open water comes with serious risks,” he said. “We know it is inviting in the hot weather, but we would encourage people to refrain from entering any open water at all. Today we have sadly seen the true tragedy that can happen as a result. Please take extra care and enjoy the warm weather as safely as possible.”
A beach with a recent history of rescues
Sunday’s incident is far from an isolated case at Seaton Carew. Hartlepool RNLI has attended a string of rescues at the beach in recent weeks, including call-outs involving people being blown out to sea on an inflatable dinghy and a paddleboard, underlining the dangers posed by offshore winds along this stretch of coastline.
