Five more people have drowned at British beauty spots across 24 hours of tragedy. The latest deaths mean some 40 people have drowned in open water across the UK since May 24, during which there has been several near-successive heatwaves.
West Wittering incident
Police, ambulance crews and the coastguard rushed to West Wittering beach in West Sussex on Sunday afternoon amid reports of two adults in difficulty in the water. Two men were pulled from the sea and treated by paramedics. A 55-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokesperson for Sussex Police said: "The men are not believed to be known to each other. Next of kin have been informed and the matter has been passed to the coroner’s officer."
In a post on Facebook, the West Wittering estate, which operates the beach, said: "We are deeply saddened to confirm that a 55-year-old man has sadly passed away following an incident at West Wittering Beach today. Our lifeguards responded immediately and together with the ambulance service, coastguard and other emergency services, provided advanced first aid and CPR."
Fistral Beach deaths
In a separate incident, a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s were pronounced dead after being pulled from the water at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, at 9.45pm last night. Eyewitnesses said the pair had been walking on rocks along the beach when they got into difficulty.
One told Cornwall Live: "I could see the helicopter doing maneuvers similar to what I’ve seen in mountain rescue. The barnacles on those rocks can make you lose your footing and it’s pretty dangerous along that bit of coast. Families have been devastated."
A Devon & Cornwall Police spokesperson 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."
Scottish loch tragedy
Two women in their 20s died on Sunday after diving in a Scottish loch. A woman, aged 26, was pronounced dead at the scene of the incident in Argyll and Bute on Sunday afternoon, while the body of a 24-year-old woman was also recovered. The alarm was raised at about 3.30pm, with the Coastguard and lifeboat crews involved in the rescue operation.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "The deaths are being treated as unexplained and a post-mortem examination will take place in due course."
Water safety warnings
Charities are now warning of a growing national "crisis" in water safety. There is a fivefold increase in accidental drowning risk on days when average maximum temperatures reach or exceed 25C, compared to days with an average temperature of 10C, according to the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS).
