In front of thousands of people at a crowded tourist attraction, a teenage girl sadly drowned after “rock leaping” into the sea with her sibling despite receiving CPR.
After seeing her girls jump into the sea off the coast of Perranporth, Cornwall, their mother dialled 999 when she spotted them getting into difficulty.
The teenage girl could not be saved after emergency responders failed to revive her; however, the other child was able to scramble ashore.
High water and choppy waves, according to James Instance of the Falmouth Coastguard, required the involvement of numerous rescue agencies.
He said that there were on-duty lifeguards who responded promptly.
‘Unfortunately, it’s simply a section of the beach at Droskyn that during high tide is just around the corner and not in the visibility of where lifeguards are patrolling and placing their concentration – between the red and yellow flags,’ he said.
Getting out in a rough region and through boulders, he continued, “definitely seems to have been a large part of the issue [to get to the duo].”
HM Coastguard received a 999 call on Thursday about 4 p.m. reporting two persons in trouble in the sea at Droskyn, Perranporth, according to a Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokesman.
Along with the coastguard helicopter from Newquay, the air ambulance, the RNLI lifeguards from Perranporth, and the coastguard rescue crew from St. Agnes, were dispatched to assist.
Police from Devon and Cornwall and the South West Ambulance Service were also sent to help.
“One individual alone made it to shore.
‘Lifeguards pulled a woman out of the sea.
Although CPR was administered, a paramedic at the scene ruled the victim dead.
An air ambulance, Devon and Cornwall Police, the coastguard rescue crew from St Agnes, the coastguard helicopter from Newquay, and RNLI lifeguards from Perranporth also attended.
A representative of the rescue effort participant Perranporth Surf Life Saving Club said: “Our sympathies are with the family of the young lady who tragically lost her life in big sea off Droskyn Steps.”
“Several of our young people who are employed by the HM Coastguard and the RNLI as professional lifeguards were involved with the incident with HEMS [Helicopter emergency medical service],” the statement reads.
In difficult water circumstances and on dry land, the Devon and Cornwall Police and the ambulance worked tremendously hard to save a life.
Unfortunately, it was not to be.
We recognise how painful these occurrences may be for everyone concerned and are immensely proud of their efforts.
I was on the beach with my family today when this thing happened, a witness to the awful death recalled.
Naturally, coastguard helicopters often draw attention, and the beach was crowded with thousands of people who were taking advantage of the ideal summer day.
Despite what was obviously a great effort by all the emergency and rescue services engaged as well as a significant number of members of the public, it was a terrible sight to behold.
While I won’t go into details, it was totally terrible and terribly disturbing. “Our sympathies are with everyone concerned.”
But our emergency services, lifeguards, and coastguards are just amazing.
Another person said: “I watched this happen this afternoon and it was quite heartbreaking to witness first responders and rescuers performing CPR.”
The person who is involved and their family have my family’s deepest sympathies.
One other horrified bystander cried out, “We just got back from Perranporth beach where we saw the most awful tragedy occur before our very eyes.”
Hold your children close, spend all of your time with the individuals that mean the most to you, and ignore everyone else.
There are some pictures that I’ll remember forever.
‘Police were called at around 5.15 p.m. on Thursday to reports of a concern for the safety of a woman in the sea at Perranporth Beach,’ a Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said.
The RNLI, Coastguard Rescue teams, the Air Ambulance, and other emergency services were also on the site.
The woman was rescued from the ocean by lifeguards, but she passed away tragically soon after.
The next of kin are informed.
The coroner will receive a file, it is stated.