MOTHER AND SON DIE IN HORROR AT BEACH
Three saved as family swept out to sea
A SEASIDE trip turned to horror yesterday as a mother and her seven-year-old son died in a beachfront tragedy.
Three other people were being treated in Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, including a 13-year-old boy – the brother of the dead youngster – after members of the public went into the North Sea to help.
The drama unfolded at 4.45pm as daytrippers flocked to the beach in Aberdeen. It is believed the mother and her two sons got into difficulties at the water’s edge.
A sea wall slopes down from the promenade for about 20 feet, ending in a flat ledge around six feet wide. One witness reported a woman either filming or photographing her children on the ledge.
Emergency crews were dispatched by Police Scotland, HM Coastguard, Scottish Fire and Rescue and the Scottish Ambulance Service.
Five people were rescued from the
water and taken to the city’s infirmary.
Chief Inspector Stewart Mackie said: ‘This is a very tragic incident, which has resulted in a woman and young boy sadly losing their lives.
‘It will undoubtedly bring shock and sadness to the entire city of Aberdeen. As we work to establish the full circumstances of today’s events, we urge anyone who witnessed the incident or has information that could assist to make contact with police via 101.
‘Given the recent weather conditions, we’d urge members of the public to take care, especially when near the coast or beach.’
As well as the 13-year-old boy, a 25-year-old woman and 28-yearold man remained in hospital for treatment last night.
Witnesses described the weather conditions as ‘squally’, with gusts of wind battering the coast.
But a spokesman for the Met Office in Aberdeen said conditions were ‘not especially windy’. The sea was officially described as ‘slight to moderate’.
Dozens of people were in the area when the tragedy happened. Officers spent the evening questioning witnesses as a large area of beach remained cordoned off.
Martin Vicca, owner of the nearby Inversnecky Cafe, said: ‘The tide was all the way in. There’s a sloped bit of the sea wall, then there’s a wee flat bit, then a vertical drop. They were on the wee flat bit.
‘The first police car tore down the slope and straight into the
‘The police car went straight into the water’
water. It was not a question of playing around trying to be safe, waiting for lifeboats or whatever.
‘Members of the public were helping as much as they could. I spoke to someone who actually helped pull one of the kids from the water. He was asking the man to try to get to his brother.’
Claire Lewtas said: ‘They [the children] had their tops off and were letting the waves come over their heads. There was a woman either videoing it or taking pictures. I was going to tell her it was unsafe but I didn’t want to interfere. On the way home, a friend contacted me saying someone had been dragged into the sea. I only wish I had said something to her.’
Among those paying tribute following the tragedy was First Minister Nicola Sturgeon who tweeted: ‘Tragic, heartbreaking news. My thoughts are with all those involved.’
Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart posted: ‘Sorry to hear of the tragic event that has taken place at Aberdeen beach. My thoughts are with those involved, their families and friends.’
In a similar tragedy in Newquay, Cornwall, a father died and his two-year-old daughter was left fighting for her life last night after they were swept into the sea by 10ft waves.
The RNLI and Coastguard managed to rescue the man’s partner, while the couple’s terrified sons looked on from rocks.
The family of five had walked to a rocky outcrop at Fistral Beach on Friday to watch a storm surge. The family from Surrey, who were visiting the area, were unaware of the peril until a wave on the incoming tide broke over them.
Initially, all five managed to stay on the rocks but then a second huge wave swept the parents, both in their 30s, and their twoyear-old daughter into the surf. As their two young sons looked on helplessly from the rocks, the parents and the little girl were sucked 65 yards from the shore.
Alerted by Falmouth Coastguard, RNLI lifeguards launched a jet-ski and managed to recover the unconscious father and his frantic wife.
But the treacherous surf meant that rescuers could not return both to the beach safely, so the man was transferred to an RNLI boat that had also been sent to the scene.
The little girl was pulled from the waves by a second boat and remained in a critical condition last night. The dead father has not been named.
The mother was pulled from the water with minor injuries, while her sons managed to clamber to safety across the rocks.