The family of Wayne Taylor, a father who drowned while attempting to rescue his two children from the sea at Seaton Carew near Hartlepool, have expressed their gratitude to well-wishers whose donations have flooded in to support funeral costs. A GoFundMe page launched by a family friend has received nearly 520 donations, raising almost £9,000, including an anonymous contribution of £1,000.
Heroic Rescue Attempt on Sunday Afternoon
Wayne Taylor, 62, entered the water alongside Ian Pascoe, 62, a passerby who also lost his life in the rescue effort. The alarm was raised at around 3:45pm on Sunday, prompting the RNLI to rush to the scene. Both men's bodies were brought ashore by the lifeboat crew. The children—a nine-year-old boy and his younger sister—were taken to hospital for checks and were confirmed safe.
Fundraiser Shannon Bailey wrote on the GoFundMe page: 'We would like to thank everyone who attended to the family at the beach and helped save their children—they are forever grateful. Sadly, two men lost their lives, and no one could describe the pain the families are feeling or enduring during this difficult time.'
Community Support for Grieving Families
Wayne lived with his partner and three children in Shildon, County Durham. A family member said: 'They have raised a lot of money. Shildon is a good place, and people have been pulling together.' Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash described the incident as 'a heartbreaking tragedy' for the town.
Ian Pascoe, of Peterlee, County Durham, was walking on the beach with his wife and family when he saw the children in distress. He handed his phone to his wife and jumped into the water. His son Dan, 30, paid tribute: 'He was the kind of person who has always done the right thing. He stood up for what he thought was right and took action when other people might have stood by and watched. He always lived his life like that, and I am so proud of him and so proud to call him my dad.'
Eyewitness Account of the Rescue
Keith Smith, 75, a Tees Valley Wildlife Trust volunteer at the beach, watched the drama unfold. He described hundreds of onlookers as the RNLI conducted a massive rescue effort. Davey Short, of Bishop Auckland, also entered the water to bring the children out. He recounted: 'The children’s mother was on the beach, she was hysterical and asking if I could help because she couldn't swim. Her eldest son had gone into the water as well to try to rescue his brother and sister but they were still out there. I managed to get hold of the boy.'
Calls for Improved Water Safety
The grieving families have backed calls for greater water safety awareness. The Mirror's 'Save Lives For Sam' campaign, supported by MPs, Olympic champions, and water safety organisations, urges compulsory water safety lessons in schools, a nationwide public awareness campaign, better lifesaving equipment at high-risk waterways, the introduction of Sam's Law, and a dedicated Minister for Water Safety.
Ian Pascoe had recently returned from a 17-year stint working in Saudi Arabia to spend more time with his family. His son Dan added: 'My dad did not hesitate when he saw the children in difficulty. He passed his phone to my mum and said, "Here, hold this for me, I will be back in a bit." He was never one to hold back; he would never witness, he would always act. And he went in to try and save them. I know that he would do it 10 times over if he thought that he was going to save a child's life. And that's why we are so proud of him.'
