Tragedy as man in his 50s dies after ‘getting into difficulty' while swimming at popular UK beach
Cornwall Police raced to get the man out of the water, scrambling emergency helicopters after he was found unresponsive on July 20.
2
Coastguard forces were scrambled after an unresponsive man was spotted in the sea
Credit: Getty
2
Spit Beach is known for its stunning sights
Credit: Alamy
The 50-year-old man was spotted in the sea at Spit Beach Par after getting "into difficulty" while swimming at around 2.15pm.
Police were contacted by HM Coastguard, who scrambled emergency services in a desperate race to reach the unresponsive man.
The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and South Western Ambulances joined in the rescue effort, with a coastguard helicopter finally retrieving him from the sea.
Attempts to save the Hertfordshire man's life were made upon recovering him from the water, but he sadly passed away - despite the emergency services' efforts.
Read More on UK News
Following the desperate rescue mission, a spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: "Police were called by HM Coastguard at 2.15pm on Sunday 20 July after a man was found unresponsive in the sea at Spit Beach, Par.
"The man had got into difficulty while swimming and was recovered from the water by the Coastguard helicopter.
"Ambulance and the RNLI also attended.
"The man was treated at the scene but despite the best efforts of emergency services he was sadly pronounced deceased.
Most read in The Sun
"He was in his 50s and from Hertfordshire.
"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner."
Previously, the force had released a statement saying they were called to Spit Beach at Par, following an alert from HM Coastguard near St Austell.
Spit Beach is popular with dog walkers and, according to St Austell's tourist page, very much a local's favourite.
The beach looks out to the channel, which is notoriously difficult to swim in.
The ice cold temperatures, strong currents and unpredictable weather have even led some to brand the channel as the "Everest of open water swimming".
More to follow...
For the latest news on this story keep checking back at The Sun Online
Thesun.co.uk is your go-to destination for the best celebrity news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video.
Like us on Facebook at
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
‘One of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history' – Wimbledon champion Jannik Sinner slammed for coach decision
JANNIK SINNER has rehired the fitness coach that played a key role in his failed drugs tests last year. Prior to winning Wimbledon this summer, 3 Jannik Sinner has reunited with fitness coach Umberto Ferrara Credit: Getty 3 Sinner, 23, recently defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the Wimbledon final Credit: Getty Sinner's explanation was that a spray purchased over-the-counter in Italy by fitness coach Umberto Ferrara had been used by physio Giacomo Naldi to treat a cut. Naldi is then said to have contaminated Sinner with the substance while massaging his feet. The world No1 was not initially suspended, and in August last year an International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA) tribunal determined that he bore "no fault or negligence" for the contamination. Following the decision, Sinner axed both Ferrara and Naldi and went on to win the US Open and Australian Open. READ MORE IN SPORT The Italian went on to hire Novak Djokovic's former fitness team Marco Panichi and Ulises Badio - but parted with both prior to his Wimbledon triumph. Sinner has since filled the vacancy by turning back to Ferrara, in a decision that has raised eyebrows among the tennis community. Former doubles Grand Slam champion Paul McNamee wrote on X: "Jannik Sinner rehiring Umberta Ferrara has to be up there as one of the most astonishing PR moves in tennis history. You can afford to hire anyone in the world. Why oh why Jannik?" Sinner eventually served a three-month ban after this year's Australian Open following the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) decision to appeal the ITIA's previous verdict to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Most read in Tennis BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Prior to the appeal reaching a courtroom, an agreement was reached between WADA and Sinner for the reigning No1 to serve a three-month ban - which enabled him to return in time for his home tournament in Rome, Roland Garros and Wimbledon. Upon axing Ferrara and Naldi last August, Sinner said: "I'm not feeling that confident to continue with them." Carlos Alcaraz vs Jannik Sinner interrupted as umpire forced to make 'most Wimbledon announcement ever' Since then, Ferrara appeared to attempt to shift the blame towards Naldi during an interview with Italian outlet Sinner's fitness coach said: "I very clearly communicated to Naldi both the nature of the product, and the fact that it must not come into contact with Jannik for any reason." He then went onto add: "I suggested that he use it because he had a cut on his finger that wasn't healing and was affecting his work. I only allowed it to be used in my personal bathroom. "Naldi did not deny being told about it, but he said he did not remember." Confirming Ferrara's return to the team, a Sinner statement read: "Jannik Sinner has reappointed Umberto Ferrara as his fitness coach with immediate effect. "The decision has been made in alignment with Jannik's management team as part of ongoing preparations for upcoming tournaments, including the Cincinnati Open and U.S. Open. 'Umberto has played an important role in Jannik's development to date, and his return reflects a renewed focus on continuity and performance at the highest level.' Sinner has withdrawn from next week's Masters 1000 event in Canada. The Wimbledon champion is next scheduled to appear in Cincinnati, before his US Open title defence begins next month. 3 Physio Giacomo Naldi, left, and Ferrara, middle, were axed from the team last August Credit: Getty
Irish Examiner
2 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
British nationals jailed in Indonesia for drug offences
Judges in Indonesia have sentenced a group of three British nationals to one year in jail for drug offences after a charge that could carry the death penalty was dropped. Jonathan Christopher Collyer, 28, and his partner Lisa Ellen Stocker, 29, were arrested on February 1 after customs officers found 993 grammes (2.2 pounds) of cocaine worth an estimated six billion rupiah (£271,731). The drugs were hidden among sachets of powdered dessert mix. Two days later, authorities arrested Phineas Ambrose Float, 31, after a delivery of the drugs arranged by police. During their June trial, defence lawyers argued their clients were unaware the food given to them in England contained cocaine. On Thursday, the three-judge panel in Denpasar District Court handed down one-year prison terms for each defendant minus time served, making them eligible for release in seven months. Separately, an Argentine woman was sentenced to seven years and a British man received a five-year sentence with a fine of one billion rupiah (£45,322) on charges of smuggling cocaine to Bali. Eleonora Gracia, 46, was arrested in March at Bali's airport with 244 grammes (0.5 pounds) of cocaine. Authorities alleged she handed over the cocaine to Elliot James Shaw, 50, during a police sting operation at a Bali hotel. A Brazilian national identified as YB, centre, and South African national identified as LN, right, during a press conference in Denpasar on Thursday (Firdia Lisnawati/AP) The sentences were considered lenient as Indonesia typically hands out severe punishments for drug smuggling, including the death penalty. Indonesian authorities also said they recently arrested a Brazilian man and a South African woman accused of smuggling cocaine. The 25-year-old Brazilian man, identified by the initials YB, was arrested on July 13 shortly after arriving from Dubai and charged with carrying 3,086 grammes (6.8 pounds) of cocaine in his suitcase and backpack at Bali's Ngurah Rai international airport, said Made Sinar Subawa, head of the Eradication Division at Bali's Narcotic Agency. The same day, customs officers seized 990 grammes (2.1 pounds) of cocaine they say was being carried in the underwear of a 32-year-old South African woman, identified as LN, it was said. About 530 people are on death row in Indonesia, mostly for drug-related crimes, including 96 foreigners, according to Ministry of Immigration and Corrections data. Indonesia's last executions of a citizen and three foreigners were carried out in July 2016. The country has upheld a moratorium on execution since 2017. President Prabowo Subianto has moved to repatriate several high-profile foreign inmates, all sentenced to death or life in prison for drug offenses, back to their home countries since he took office in October. A British woman, Lindsay Sandiford, now 69, has been on death row in Indonesia for more than a decade. She was arrested in 2012 with 3.8 kilograms (8.4 pounds) of cocaine in her luggage. Serge Atlaoui, an ailing Frenchman, returned to France in February after Jakarta and Paris agreed to repatriate him on 'humanitarian grounds'. Indonesia took Mary Jane Veloso off death row and returned her to the Philippines in December. In the same month, the government sent to Australia the five remaining members of a drug ring known as the 'Bali Nine'.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Builder mauled by XL Bully who ‘ripped flesh from his bones' after escaping while owner offered him cup of tea
A BUILDER was left seriously injured after being mauled by an XL Bully during a tea break. The dog, called Ozzy, repeatedly bit into the man's leg, leaving his flesh ripped away from the bone. 3 A builder in Norwich was viciously mauled by an XL Bully Credit: Getty 3 Daniel Savino, 46, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control when it caused injury Credit: SWNS It occurred while the builder was working on a home extension in Norwich on January 21. While the owner had reportedly agreed to keep the dog inside, it escaped when the builder was asked if he wanted a drink. The savage attack left the man needing surgery, as he is unsure if his lower leg will regain feeling. In addition to the physical damage, the self-employed builder has also suffered financial damage as he has been left unable to work. Read more News It comes after legislation in February 2024 made it illegal to own an XL Bully without an exemption certificate. An insurance policy had also been taken out on Ozzy, with a £12,000 payout. While Ozzy had been registered exempt, the attack could mean the dog is subject to a destruction order. Daniel Savino, 46, who had been looking after his partner's dog on the day of the attack, pleaded guilty to being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control when it caused injury. Most read in The Sun He will be sentenced on September 25 and could face time in prison. Savino's defence solicitor said the dog had been bought four years ago, and that the attack was "out of character". He said it was an "unfortunate slip" that it had escaped through three door gates. 3 The attack left the man with his flesh ripped off the bone in his leg Credit: Getty
