Inquests opened into deaths of two men who died in tragedy on Hartlepool beach
Inquests have formally opened into the deaths of two men who died while trying to rescue children in difficulty in the sea at Seaton Carew.
Ian Pascoe, 62, from the Peterlee area and Wayne Taylor, 38, from County Durham, lost their lives after going into the sea on the afternoon of Sunday, July 12.
An inquest, opened at Middlesbrough Town Hall, on Tuesday morning, heard the provisional cause of death for both men is drowning.
Emergency services including police, ambulance, coastguard and RNLI, all responded to the incident on the beach.
Mr Pascoe and Mr Taylor were taken to Hartlepool lifeboat station and treated by paramedics, but were both pronounced dead.
Two children were taken to hospital as a precaution.
Inquests are formal legal hearings to determine who and how someone died suddenly or unexpectedly.
Coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool Paul Appleton said he was still awaiting a number of statements, and a date for a further hearing has yet to be set.