Mother and son die in Aberdeen beach tragedy

A mother and son have died in hospital after a day out at the seaside ended in tragedy yesterday.

The beach at Aberdeen, where the weather was described as squally. Picture: Robert Perry

The alarm was raised at around 4.45pm after three people, understood to be a mother and her two sons, got into difficulties while playing in the water at the beachfront in Aberdeen.

A man aged 28, a woman aged 25, and a 13-year-old boy remain in hospital for treatment. A major rescue operation was launched and five people were pulled from the water and taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said two of those rescued were pulled from the sea by Aberdeen inshore lifeboat crew and others were recovered by police.

Police had rushed to the beach boulevard as members of the public put themselves at risk by jumping into the sea and pulling the trio to the shore.

Witnesses described the weather conditions as “squally” and the tide was fully in.

The family were said to be playing on a flat stretch of sea wall that runs the length of the beach when they encountered difficulties.

Inspector Lorna Ferguson said: “It appears that all three were possibly playing in the water.”

Martin Vicca, owner of the nearby Inversnecky Cafe, said: “The tide was all the way in and at that point it would be reaching six or seven feet up the sea wall.

“There’s a sloped bit of the sea wall then there’s a wee flat bit then a vertical drop. They were on the wee flat bit.

“The first police car that arrived tore down the slope and straight into the water. It was not a question of playing around trying to be safe, waiting for lifeboats or whatever. Members of the public were helping as much as they could.”

Another witness, Claire Lewtas, claimed the woman was videoing the children splashing in the waves in the lead up to the incident.

Chief Inspector Stewart Mackie said: “As we work with partners to establish the full circumstances of today’s events, we urge anyone who witnessed the incident, or perhaps has information that could assist, to make contact with police via 101.”