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EXCLUSIVE: Brothers' shock after Whitby beach tragedy
EYEWITNESSES have told of the horrifying moment a 17-year-old boy was caught in a rip tide near Whitby's West Pier on Wednesday and subsequently drowned.
The teenager, who has been named as James Samuel Willis, from Stockton but now based in the Gosforth area, had been swimming in the sea with two girls (16) when they got into trouble just before 1pm.
The trio were on an adult supervised trip from St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth, Newcastle which is a medium secure psychiatric unit for youths.
He was brought to the shore of Tate Hill beach in the harbour by lifeboat and airlifted to Scarborough Hospital by an RAF helicopter but was pronounced dead just before 2pm.
Moments after the tragedy, the beach was re-opened and families continued to play in the deadly waters.
Teenage brothers, who were already in the water, acted heroically as they battled through the rough sea to try and rescue the trio.
Joseph (15) and Tom Ellis (16), from Selby, were playing in the waves when they heard one of the girls screaming, but at first thought it was somebody messing around.
Joseph said: "I tried to grab her but she grabbed me under. It was just really rough, and we had to swim back."
The brave pair were visibly shaken by the tragedy.
The brothers said people on the pier attempted to throw life belts to the swimmers but they did not come close due to the choppy waters.
An RNLI spokeswoman said the incident happened some 300-400 metres from the patrolled 'safe swim' area.
"The RNLI lifeguards spotted the incident and responded as soon as they knew that someone was in trouble," she said.
"Lifeguard Josh Jones reached the water's edge on a quad bike and entered the water, reaching the girl first and securing her with a rescue tube to aid flotation.
"He then proceeded further out to the male while his fellow lifeguard Megan Ellis returned the girl to shore.
"Josh reached the male casualty, who was unconscious, and kept him afloat until the inshore lifeboat crew reached them and recovered them both into the lifeboat.
"Lifeboat volunteer Hugh Ramsden administered CPR to the casualty in the lifeboat. Once they arrived back at the lifeboat station, RNLI crew members Mike Russell and Nick Botham continued with CPR until a rescue helicopter arrived and transferred him to hospital.
The beach and pier were lined with anxious onlookers as the tragedy unfolded.
Holidaymaker Rachel Adams, from Liverpool, said: "We were on the beach, not far from Whitby Pavilion and we saw lifeguards run into the sea near to the West Pier, and within five or 10 minutes the lifeboat had pulled someone aboard.
"We were all very concerned that someone was in danger, and it was all very confusing."
Witnesses close to the lifeboat station near Tate Hill beach then saw the distressing moment the boy was brought to shore before crowds were cleared from the pier so the helicopter could land.
One eyewitness close to the scene said: "After the helicopter left, everyone just looked around, looked at each other and just felt really sad."
The helicopter then returned to collect the two girls from the beach.
One had been brought out of the water by a lifeguard and one had managed to get herself to shore alone.
They were taken to Scarborough Hospital suffering from hypothermia.
Whitby lifeboat coxswain Mike Russell said: "Everyone at the station is devastated about what happened.
"The lifeguards and the lifeboat crew worked so hard to help the lad but unfortunately were unable to save him.
"It was a lovely sunny day but the conditions in the harbour entrance were confused because of a swell caused by the previous day's bad weather and the torrential rain on Monday.
"That made conditions in the water quite challenging for everyone involved."
Scarborough Borough Council (SBC) issued a warning to holidaymakers.
Hilary Jones, SBC's strategic director said: "I would urge anyone taking children and young people to our borough's beaches to always be fully aware of the potential risks and if you are worried about the state of the sea, consult the RNLI lifeguards on site for advice and be extra vigilant when young people are in the water."
The RNLI has no authority to close a beach or to stop people swimming in a certain area.
RNLI lifeguards proactively advise people where they should swim, encouraging people into the patrolled area, but they can not force people to move into this safe zone.
Police inquiries to determine the full circumstances surrounding the death are ongoing.
Witnesses to the incident or anyone with information have been asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on (0845) 6060247
PICTURES by Ceri Oakes - ceri.oakes@yrnltd.co.uk
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Weather for Whitby
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 37 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 1 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
