Two 'unidentified' women die after being pulled from water at Cornwall beaches

Daily Mail​

2 days ago

Two 'unidentified' women have tragically died after being pulled from the water at popular beaches in Cornwall.
The first woman, in her 50s, sadly passed away after being taken from the sea at Portreath beach, near the picturesque tourist haven of St Ives on Sunday.
Suspected to have suffered from a cardiac arrest, paramedics attended the scene at 12.35pm but were unfortunately unable to revive her.
Then, less than four hours later, another woman was discovered floating face down in the water having gone for a swim at Porthcothan beach near the small town of Padstow.
Devon and Cornwall Police have confirmed that neither woman has been formally identified.
The force said that they were alerted to the first incident following a report issued by the South Western Ambulance Service Trust.
RNLI lifeguards rushed to the crowded beach as members of the public enjoyed the summer heatwave, with many beach goers witnessing the tragic incident as it unfolded.
Hoards of families across the country flocked to several British beaches today as temperatures soared to 30 degrees celsius in many parts of the UK.
The two tragic incidents come just one day after a woman in her 60s died after getting into dificulty in the sea at Skegness.
Following reports of a woman in the water, the RNLA launched a major search while an air ambulance flew over the seaside town in Lincolnshire.
The woman was rescued from the sea at 5pm on Saturday and brought back to shore but Lincolnshire Police confirmed she was unable to be saved and sadly passed away.
A spokesperson from the RNLI confirmed a lifeboat was launched and CPR was carried out on a person at the beach.
A police spokesperson said on Sunday: 'We received a call from the Coastguard at 5.39pm yesterday reporting that they had rescued a woman who had got in difficulty in the sea at Skegness.
'The woman, aged in her 60s, was brought onto shore but sadly she died.
'Her next of kin are aware. Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time.'
And, just one month prior, Aaron Keightley, 29, died at the same beach where he had been enjoying the summer heatwave.
The labourer was taken by the current, his sister Shannon Smith said.
Ms Smith launched an online fundraiser to help cover the costs of bringing her 'selfless and loving' older sibling's body home to Leicester, as well as his funeral.
Speaking from her home in Beaumont Leys, Leicester, she said her brother and his friends were 'just messing about in the waves, no more than knee deep', when a 'really big one' knocked them off their feet.
'One of his friends tried to help him, but he said by the time he got to Aaron it was already too late.
As the UK faces its fourth heatwave of the summer, a yellow health alert has been issued from 12pm on Monday through to 6pm on Wednesday, covering London, Yorkshire and the Humber, the East Midlands, east of England, the South East and South West.
But the warm weather has raised health concerns, with the Met Office warning of changing tides and water depth.
Anya Gopfert, UKHSA consultant in public health, stating last week: ' Our findings show that even moderate heat can lead to serious health outcomes, especially for older adults.
There could be a significant impact across health and social care services, including the potential for a rise in deaths, particularly among those aged 65 and over or with health conditions.
'It is therefore important that everyone takes sensible precautions while enjoying the sun.'
HM Coastguard and the London Fire Brigade have previously warned of an increased risk of drowning during heatwaves.
The LFB has attended more than 280 water-related incidents this year so far, an increase of about 15 per cent compared with the same period in 2024, it said.
They have included incidents such as sinking and capsized boats, individuals trapped in mud or caught by the tide, and people and animals in distress in the water.
Fifteen incidents resulted in people drowning in London, the fire brigade said.
Pam Oparaocha, assistant commissioner for prevention and protection, said: 'We're working closely with MPs, schools and local communities to help people understand the serious water safety risks as summer approaches.
'With warm weather and school holidays on the horizon, we want people, especially young people, to enjoy our waterways safely, and that starts with education.
'Strong currents, underwater hazards and cold water shock can be deadly. It's important to know the risks and to familiarise yourself with lifesaving equipment like throwlines, which are available along many of London's waterways. There's a wealth of guidance on our website to help people stay safe this summer.'