'Sad more than words can say' - Swimmer dies after falling ill during early morning dip off Hartlepool coast

Emergency services were called to the casualty, who has not been named, on the beach near The Green on Saturday, September 10.

Despite efforts to save them by fellow swimmers, the person, believed to be a pensioner, died.

They were a member of the Seaton Carew Sea Swimmers group, also known as the Brass Monkeys.

A spokesperson for the swimming group said: “One of our swimmers had to be helped out of the sea. A good few fellow swimmers worked hard to try and revive him but sadly he had gone.

“It's devastated the group, as we are very close, and we always look out for each other. It's really sad, more than words can say.

"We are all just absolutely stunned. Our condolences go to their family."

The tragedy happened at around 8.30am on Saturday, September 10.

The North East Ambulance Service attended, as well as a critical care team in the Great North Air Ambulance which arrived on the scene at 8.45am.

However, a spokesperson for the air ambulance said it did not treat or assess the patient and returned to base.

Harttlepool RNLI volunteers were also paged by Humber Coastguard at 8.16am on Saturday.

The inshore lifeboat Solihull, with four volunteer crew, was on the scene shortly after 8.25am where it was discovered that the swimmer had already been recovered to the shoreline.

Inshore lifeboat helm Darren Killick said “Conditions were very difficult with a two-three metre swell, but we could see the casualty was already on the beach and we could also see police and an ambulance in attendance and it was at that point we were stood down by the Coastguard and returned to the boathouse.”

The North East Ambulance Service added: "We received a call to 999 at 8.25 this morning to a person unwell on the beach opposite The Green at Seaton Carew in Hartlepool.

"We sent a clinical team leader, Great North Air Ambulance, a specialist paramedic and two emergency ambulance crews."

The swimming group regularly meet for an early morning dip at Seaton for the health benefits and to socialise.

Flowers have been left at the seafront.

The Mail has contacted Cleveland Police about Saturday’s tragedy.