By GB News (World News) | Created at 2026-10-05 00:05:41 | Updated at 2026-10-05 00:56:31
54 minutes ago
A man has died after five members of the public pulled him from the sea at a popular Dorset beach.
The incident unfolded at approximately 3.40pm at Durley Chine Beach in Bournemouth, according to witnesses at the scene.
Dorset Police confirmed they were alerted at 4.13pm to a man needing urgent medical assistance near Bournemouth Pier.
The man, described as being in his late 50s or early 60s, was pronounced dead at the scene despite desperate efforts by bystanders and emergency services to save his life.
His death is not being treated as suspicious, and his family has been informed.
Coastguard teams, police officers and paramedics all responded to the emergency, with roughly ten vehicles arriving on the promenade.
Bournemouth influencer James Edward Lees was among those who rushed to help after noticing a disturbance on the shoreline while relaxing on the sand above the groynes.
"I saw a situation happening over there, a guy on the ground with two or three women around him," he told the Bournemouth Echo.
The incident happened at Durley Chine Beach in Bournemouth
PA
Mr Lees added: "I ran over, leaving all my stuff behind. He was half in and half out of the water."
Together with four other bystanders, Lees helped haul the man fully onto dry land and directed others to place him in the recovery position before dialling 999 at 3.47pm.
He then dashed to a nearby beachfront venue to grab a wall-mounted defibrillator. "I ran all the way up to get the defib, I've never run so fast in my life," he said.
Around eight people worked to keep the man alive while waiting for paramedics to arrive, including an off-duty Metropolitan Police officer and a trained nurse who performed CPR on the beach.
A search was launched for man who vanished while swimming in water off Bournemouth beach
A rescue helicopter was also spotted circling the area overhead twice as the major emergency response got underway.
"It's absolutely shocking, it's really frightening, it's awful, absolutely awful," Lees told the Bournemouth Echo, visibly shaken by what he had witnessed.
The scene left many beachgoers deeply distressed, with onlookers seen crying and consoling one another near the water's edge.
Mr Lees stayed at the beach afterwards to offer support and condolences to the victim's relatives, who included his Ukrainian son-in-law.
Bournemouth Beach in Dorset is a popular tourist hotspot
A Dorset Police spokesperson said: "We received a report at 4.13pm on Sunday, October 4 of a man requiring medical attention at Bournemouth beach near to the pier.
"Emergency services attended and, very sadly, the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
"His family is aware. His death is not being treated as suspicious.
"Our thoughts are with the man's family and friends at this very difficult time."
Local reports described people as visibly upset and struggling to come to terms with what had happened.
Mr Lees added: "You don't expect to come to a quiet beach on a beautiful day and witness someone losing their life."
