18/07/2005

Man drowned off Portrush strand

A 44-year-old holidaymaker has drowned after he was swept off an inflatable sunbed into the sea at Portrush yesterday.

A local Coastguard attempted to rescue the man from the sea after he got into difficulties in the water a short distance from the shore of the popular North Coast strand. An experienced canoeist, the Coastguard, who had been called to the East Strand to deal with another emergency, used a canoe to try to reach the man in the water.

Though the man was eventually taken aboard a lifeboat where he received CPR and was taken to an ambulance, on arrival at Coleraine Hospital, he was declared dead.

Earlier in the day, two children had to be rescued from the sea by a fisherman. Both children were taken to hospital where they were treated for the effects of inhaling seawater.

Coastguard have urged people to take care when enjoying seaside activities and warned that rescue from the sea is "not instantaneous" as it takes time to muster lifeboat crews who must then try to get to the person in trouble.

(SP)

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