Cornwall

Two die in separate incidents on Cornish coast

Teenage girl died after boat overturned in Wadebridge, and man died in Treyarnon Bay

Two people died in separate incidents along the Cornish coast on bank holiday Monday.

Devon and Cornwall police were called to reports of an upturned rigid inflatable boat in the water in Wadebridge at about 2.25pm. Three people were taken to the Royal Cornwall hospital and a teenage girl was later pronounced dead.

At 2.30pm the force was notified by the coastguard of another incident, at Treyarnon Bay in Padstow. Emergency services attended the scene after reports that a member of the public had pulled a man from the water.

A force spokeswoman said the man, who is yet to be identified, was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a third incident, surfers pulled an unconscious man from the water in Porthtowan, Truro, at about 2.30pm. The man was taken to the Royal Cornwall hospital by air ambulance in a serious condition and is receiving treatment.

Ch Insp Ian Thompson, of Devon and Cornwall police, said: “These are extremely upsetting circumstances and our thoughts go out to all involved. It has been a very tough day for local emergency services and we are asking for anyone with information on the above incidents to contact police.”

The RNLI and Coastguard said last week that there were no lifeguards on UK beaches. The start of the normal seasonal lifeguard service was paused at the end of March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Since changes were made to lockdown restrictions, the RNLI said it had been looking at plans to resume a service where possible. It is hoped lifeguard patrols will return by peak season on 70 beaches, which will be chosen based on risk and popularity.