New Brighton sea death victim 'trying to help dog rescuer'

A woman has died while trying to help a man and their dog who went into the sea in Wirral, the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) has said.

The pair were walking the dog along King's Parade, New Brighton, when the dog got into difficulty in the water at about 12:20 BST, the RNLI said.

The man, aged in his 20s, entered the water first followed by the woman.

They were pulled from the water along with the dog but the woman, in her 50s, died at the scene.

The man is said to be in a stable condition in hospital and the dog is safe and well.

A spokesperson for the RNLI said: "Two walkers were on the promenade by Portland slipway when their dog entered the water and got into difficulty.

"One of the walkers, a man, entered the water to help the dog but also got into difficulty.

"The second walker, a female, then entered the water to help the man but also got into difficulty."

Members of the public raised the alarm.

Shebs Alom was walking nearby when it happened and told the BBC several others tried to rescue the woman, but the conditions were treacherous.

"We were all trying to throw her ropes and a life ring," he said.

"She just wasn't reacting.

"Even the best of swimmers would have struggled in that water," he added.

Formal identification has not yet taken place, Merseyside Police said.

"Inquiries are ongoing establish the full circumstances of what led to this tragic incident," said Det Insp Tara Denn.

She urged anyone who witnessed what happened to contact the force.

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