Men who died helping two children in sea named

News imageBBC Side shot of a gate with two bouquets of flowers attached to it on a beach. The flowers are yellow and purple. The sky is blue. BBC
The men died at Seaton Carew on Sunday

Two men who died helping two children in difficulty in the sea have been named locally as Wayne Taylor and Ian Pascoe.

It is understood the men were brought back to shore at Seaton Carew beach, in Hartlepool, at about 15:45 BST on Sunday by the RNLI, but both were pronounced dead a short time later.

Cleveland Police said formal identification was yet to take place and it was continuing to carry out inquiries on behalf of the coroner.

The youngsters the two men went to rescue were taken to hospital as a precaution and confirmed to be safe.

News imageGOFUNDME A man is wearing an orange shirt and black shorts with the strap of a black bag horizontally across his bodyGOFUNDME
Wayne Taylor has not been formally identified by police but has been named locally

Labour Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash described the men's deaths as a "heartbreaking tragedy" for the town.

On Monday, Hartlepool Borough Council leader Graham Harrison, of Reform UK, said he had asked for "a full review of the current water safety arrangements at Seaton Carew" and across the area's coastline.

The beach is only covered by lifeguards during the summer school holidays, which have yet to start.

Seaton Carew Independent councillor Sue Little has asked for lifeguards to be put in place from May until the end of September, and a petition calling for the provision to be extended outside the school holidays has received more than 1,600 signatures.

News imageDavey Short has short-cropped brown hair. He is wearing a black t-shirt and he looks like he has been in the sun a lot with slightly red skin. He is standing on a promenade with the sea behind him.
Davey Short helped pull a boy from the water

Hartlepool, Redcar and Staithes Coastguard Rescue Teams attended the emergency on Sunday, as well as police and the North East Ambulance Service.

Davey Short, who had been walking along the beach, managed to pull one of the children - a boy - to safety on his second attempt.

"I realised something was not right because there was a woman screaming and shouting," he said.

"I ran straight in and dived into the water, I got a bit scared myself and came back in a way to get my bearings.

"I wish I could have done more. I would do it again if I had to, I'm a dad with kids of my own."

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