Newquay, Cornwall: Three Surfers Die In Sea Tragedy

Three surfers have died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Cornwall.
*The three included a female in her 30s, a male in his 50s and a male aged in his 20s or 30s, an ambulance spokeswoman said.
Coastguards received "multiple 999 calls" from people at about 13:15 GMT when the group got into trouble in what is believed to have been a rip current.
The South Western Ambulance Service said the initial call reported "seven people had been caught in a rip tide" [sic].

Officers were called by the Coastguard after reports that seven people with surfboards, four children and three adults, were in trouble off Mawgan Porth beach, Newquay.

Two men and one woman, found unconscious in the sea, were taken to Treliske for treatment.

All three were pronounced dead in hospital. The remaining four people are accounted for and safe.
The RNLI, Coastguard, police, ambulance service, and air ambulance were all involved in the rescue.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: "The four children were all located safe and well on shore but the three adults were recovered from the water.

"Two of those recovered from the water were given CPR at the scene. The three casualties were transferred to hospital by the rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose and both the Devon and Cornwall air ambulances."

Superintendent Jim Pearce, from Devon and Cornwall Police, said: "This is a tragic incident and our condolences go out to the families of those involved.

"Along with the other emergency services we are now working to ascertain the full circumstances of this incident and our priority is to contact the families of those involved and offer all the support we can."

A spokeswoman for the South Western Ambulance Service said the surfers were caught in a rip tide and the three who died consisted of woman in her 30s, a male in his 50s and another male in his 20s.
They have not been named.
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Dublin: More Irish Beaches Get Blue Flag Awards

There has been an increase in the number of Blue Flag awards this year, with a total of 134 awards being given.

More than 76 beaches and four marinas were awarded the prestigious Blue Flag award representing an increase in six Blue Flag awards since 2013.

Meanwhile, 54 beaches in Ireland were awarded the Green Coast Award representing an increase in nine awards.

Eight Blue Flags were regained in four Local Authority areas.

Four Blue Flags were regained in Portmarnock, Portrane, Donabate and Skerries South Beach in Fingal.

Water quality

Morriscastle in Wexford and Ballybunion North in Kerry regained their Blue Flags after failing to comply with water quality criteria in 2013.

In Waterford, two Blue Flags were regained in Councellors Strand and Dunmore Strand.

Blue Flag applications were received for 81 beaches in total, however five beaches were not awarded the Blue Flag due to ongoing works to repair extensive damage caused by the Spring storms.

Dog’s Bay in Galway lost the Green Coast Award due to considerable infrastructural damage at the beach as a result of the storms.

First timers

Trá gCaorach Inis Oirr in Galway and Kilfrassey in Waterford have been awarded the Green Coast Award for the first time.

The Green Coast Award recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. These beaches may not have the necessary built infrastructure required to meet the criteria set for Blue Flag status.

These beaches were Bertra and Mulranny in Mayo, Rossbeigh in Kerry and Miltown Malbay and Spanish Point in Clare.

An Taisce announced the International Blue Flag Award and the National Green Coast Award recipients today, where the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Phil Hogan siad: 

I am pleased to say that a total of 134 beach and marina awards will be made today. This represents an increase of 15 on the 2013 awards and is testament to efforts of communities, local authorities and An Taisce and the sterling work they do. Results might even have been better except for the devastation of the storms last winter which caused significant damage in some areas.