Girl, 14, dies and teen relative critical after Clacton Pier incident
Police, ambulance crews and the coastguard are among the emergency services called to the scene in Essex.
Thursday 8 August 2019 18:46, UK
A teenage girl has died in hospital after being pulled from the sea along with two relatives near Clacton Pier in Essex.
The girl, 14, was pulled from the water alongside an 18-year-old man and a 15-year-old girl on Thursday.
The 18-year-old remains in a stable but critical condition, while the 15-year-old is expected to make a full recovery.
Emergency services including police, ambulance crews and the coastguard were called to the scene at around 1.40pm, with the casualties receiving treatment on the beach.
Speaking to the Clacton Gazette, one unnamed witness who was on the seafront at the time of the incident recalled seeing a "commotion".
They said: "A fireman who was off duty, who just happened to be around [and helped] for 25 minutes until paramedics took over.
"He looked exhausted.
"Once they realised the enormity of the situation, they were all working so damned hard.
"It is so sad."
The East of England Ambulance Service said in a statement it had deployed rapid response vehicles, ambulance officers, three ambulance crews and a hazardous area response team to the scene.
All three teenagers were taken to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment.
Two other people were assessed at the scene but did not need to go to hospital, a spokesman said.
Essex Police said it was in the early stages of an investigation, but said it believed the three teenagers had "got into difficulty at sea", when they needed assistance.
He added: "Immediate family members have been informed and are at hospital.
"We are continuing to support the family at this unimaginably difficult time and are working closely with our partners."
Tendring District Council tweeted that it was aware of the incident on the seafront and that its beach patrol team had assisted the emergency services, including teams from Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.
The air ambulance service said: "At this time three critical care teams are in attendance: two from Essex and Herts Air Ambulance and one from the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
"They are helping to provide critical care along with our partners from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust and other emergency services."
A spokeswoman for the coastguard confirmed that a joint taskforce between Clacton and Walton Coastguard rescue teams and the RNLI was working with Essex Police over the incident.
No further details were provided.
Local traffic, including public transport, has been diverted in the area around the pier, which sticks out around 150 metres into the North Sea off the coast of Clacton.
The pier, which opened in 1870, is especially popular during the summer months.
Essex bus company Hedingham Buses said on Twitter: "Due to a serious accident on Marine Parade West in Clacton, all services are diverting via Wash Lane in both directions.
"We are also expecting severe delays for the foreseeable future. Our sincerest apologies."