A man and two children were airlifted to hospital after getting into difficulty while swimming at Margate's Main Sands beach on Saturday, as emergency services raced to the scene at around 4:30pm. Witnesses said at least one child was pulled from the water before paramedics, police, Margate RNLI, coastguard teams and a KSS air ambulance arrived. The two children were airlifted to King's College Hospital in London, while the man was taken to the William Harvey Hospital in Ashford.
A Kent Police spokesperson said: "Kent Police was called at 4.36pm to a report that a man and two children had come into difficulty in the sea at Margate, and were receiving medical treatment at the scene." The spokesperson added that officers attended to manage traffic and allow the air ambulance and coastguard helicopter to land. A HM Coastguard spokesperson said: "HM Coastguard responded to reports of a medical incident involving three people in the water in the Margate Main Sands area today, 25 July. All three people were transferred to hospital."
“Three airlifted after Margate swimming incident; separate Clacton rescue leaves three hospitalised.”
The incident came as a separate rescue unfolded at Clacton Pier in Essex, where three people were taken to hospital after getting into difficulty in the water shortly after 4:30pm on Saturday. Two men, in their 50s and 20s, and a teenage girl were brought ashore and required medical treatment. Police said the man in his 50s is in a critical but stable condition, while the man in his 20s and the teenage girl are recovering well but remain in hospital. All three are known to each other.
Chief Inspector Stuart Austin, Clacton district commander, said: "I'm acutely aware there will be a sense of shock and worry given recent incidents elsewhere in north Essex in the last week. First and foremost, our thoughts are with those affected by the incident on the seafront yesterday. Emergency services were quickly on the scene and all services worked incredibly professionally to clear the area to allow for medical professionals to help the three people involved." He urged people to refrain from commenting on the incident on social media.