Swimmer Dies After Getting Caught In Rip Tide

A 54-year-old swimmer has died and another is in hospital after four people got into difficulties after getting caught in a rip tide off a Norfolk beach.

Emergency services were called to the water's edge at Sea Palling, 15 miles northwest of Great Yarmouth, after the alarm was raised shortly before 11.45am on Saturday.

Coastguards said they received "multiple 999 calls" about a "small group" in trouble in the water.

The emergency services treated two patients who were both in cardiac arrest.

A man in his 20s was resuscitated at the scene and airlifted to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in a stable condition, the East of England Ambulance Service said.

Two other people were assessed at the scene but did not need hospital treatment.

Three land ambulances, two air ambulances, the Humber Coastguard rescue helicopter and three local coastguard teams were involved in the operation, along with two RNLI inshore lifeboats from nearby Happisburgh.

Mark Ebbage, 56, of Norwich, was with his family when the tragedy happened.

"We saw the air ambulance arrive to treat someone," he said.

"They put somebody on a boat and brought it up the beach, then we saw a body bag.

"There were probably around 15 different emergency vehicles here.

"Some of them were down on the beach and some were on the ramp and further down the road.

"One minute they're swimming away enjoying themselves and then this happens. It's very sad."

Tim Ash, from the RNLI, said it was a "major incident".

"Four casualties, all males, got into difficulties in the sea in a rip at Sea Palling," he said, adding that it was about "800m away from the lifeguarded area".

"Two of the lifeguards were on the shoreline and they ran down - when they got there the four casualties were all on land.

"A 26-year-old male was not breathing and a 54-year-old male was not breathing.

"Both had been pulled out by members of the public.

"The other two casualties - a 16-year-old boy and a man in his 20s - got out under their own power with some difficulties and didn't need assistance."

Mr Ash added: "Our standard message to anyone and everyone is to swim at a lifeguarded beach and between the red and yellow flags."