Hero dad who died at Seaton Carew beach trying to save his two kids who survived

Wayne Taylor has been named locally as the dad who tragically died trying to save his two children after they got into difficulties in the sea at Seaton Carew beach A dad who tragically died trying to save his two children on a UK beach has been named.On Sunday July 12 a family day out at Seaton Carew beach in Hartlepool turned into every parent’s worst nightmare when two children got into difficulty in the sea. Three men including the children’s dad, Wayne Taylor, sprung into action to try and save them.

Wayne bravely entered the sea alongside beachgoer Davey Short and another unnamed man. Tragically, both Wayne and the unnamed man died before they were able to save the children.Mr Short said: “There were three children at the beach with their mam and dad, a boy aged 15, a second boy aged 11 or 12 and a younger girl. The two younger kids were in the sea and started to struggle.

I saw a second figure next to the boy and he was face down in the water. I discovered afterward the children’s father had gone in to rescue them, was swept away, and didn’t get back out. A second man had also gone in and he drowned as well. He had been out walking his dog with his partner and he ran in to help. She saw the whole thing, it’s devastating to think about that.

“I was the third person to go into the water. The children’s mother was on the beach, she was hysterical and asking if I could help because she couldn’t swim. Her eldest son had gone into the water as well to try to rescue his brother and sister but they were still out there. I managed to swim out and get hold of the boy.”

The tragedy came amid the Mirror’s Save Lives for Sam campaign, which is urging Britain to treat drowning as a national emergency and is demanding the government launches an urgent public awareness campaign. More than 30 people have have drowned during heatwaves in the UK since May – including seven in the past week alone

On Sunday, Superintendent Glen Ward of Cleveland Police said: “Our deepest sympathies go out to the families of both the men involved in this tragic incident today. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, sadly both men were pronounced dead a short time after being brought out of the sea.

 Seaton Carew beach by the beach huts(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

“We are conducting enquiries into the circumstances of what happened today, although the deaths are not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the Coroner.

The men’s bodies were brought to shore by the RNLI, who rushed to the scene at around 3.45pm. Both children escaped unharmed thanks in part to the efforts of other beachgoers. They were taken to hospital to be checked over.