Two men who drowned while attempting to rescue a nine-year-old boy and his younger sister at Seaton Carew beach have been hailed as heroes. Wayne Taylor, a father of three, and Ian Pascoe, 62, a passer-by who was walking with his wife and family, entered the water on Sunday at around 3.45pm. The children survived.
Details of the Incident
The RNLI brought the men's bodies to shore after a rescue operation at Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, County Durham. Both Mr Taylor and Mr Pascoe died before they could reach the children. The Mirror's 'Save Lives For Sam' water safety campaign has been backed by both families, who are calling for compulsory water safety lessons in schools and a nationwide public awareness campaign.
Tributes from Families
Ian Pascoe's 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.' Dan added: 'He 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 would never witness, he would always act.'
A member of Wayne Taylor's family said his partner had faced criticism on social media, adding: 'The mum did nothing wrong, and she does not deserve this criticism. She needs to be able to grieve with her children without this in their lives. It is like a hate campaign, has she not suffered enough?'
Community Response
Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash said: 'Two men went into the sea to help children in difficulty at Seaton Carew. Those children were saved. The two men who went to help did not come home. No words can lessen the pain their families are now experiencing.' Jess Cole, cousin of 14-year-old Matthew Sherrington who drowned in July 2021, said: 'My heart goes out to the two men who sadly lost their lives at Seaton Carew. It's two days until the anniversary of our Matthew's death and the news made my heart sink.'
Eyewitness Keith Smith, 74, described the huge rescue operation with hundreds watching from the sea front. Davey Short, who also entered the water to bring the children out, said: '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.'
Water Safety Campaign
The Mirror campaign, backed by MPs, Olympic champions, and national water safety organisations, is calling for urgent action including compulsory water safety lessons in schools, better life saving equipment at high-risk waterways, the introduction of Sam's Law, and a dedicated Minister for Water Safety.
