Two die in separate sea incidents

A man and a young girl have died following separate incidents off the Co Waterford and Co Antrim coasts this weekend.

The man, aged in his 30s, was airlifted from the sea off Co Waterford yesterday but subsequently died, according to the Coast Guard.

He had been snorkelling with friends near Goat Island in Whiting Bay near Ardmore.

He got into difficulties shortly after 2.30pm.

The Coast Guard’s Maritime Rescue Co-Ordination Centre said it sent a rescue helicopter to the scene where crew airlifted the man and provided medical attention. The Ardmore rescue unit was also deployed.

A spokesman said weather conditions dictated the helicopter land at Waterford Regional Airport where an ambulance was standing by. However, the spokesman said the man was later declared dead by emergency services.

In Northern Ireland a girl died after falling into the sea at Bushfoot Strand, an exposed stretch, near the village of Portballintrae, Co Antrim.

Coastguards helped emergency services at the scene, but the girl died in Causeway Hospital, Coleraine, Co Derry, late last night.

John Bustard, who runs a surf school close to the beach, and who had been in nearby water just before the alarm was raised, said everybody was shocked.

He added: "This is a dangerous stretch of beach with so many flows of water.

"We're all just devastated here because it's just awful when these things happen."

Additional reporting PA