Leeds man dies in sea tragedy

A surgeon who died reportedly trying to save four teenagers from drowning was "extremely popular" and will be "tremendously missed by everyone".

Stuart Calder, 52, was pulled unconscious from the sea off Mawgan Porth beach in Newquay, Cornwall, on Saturday, after it is thought he dived in to help the children.

Mr Calder worked as knee surgeon at Leeds Teaching Hospitals and today the trust paid tribute to him, saying it was shocked by his death.

Two other adults also died in the surfing tragedy and were named as Rachel Dunn, 42, and Kevin Reynolds, 44, both from St Austell.

But the police said they would not be officially naming Mr Calder after a request from his family.

The four teenage boys - two aged 18, one 16 and one 15 - were taken to hospital after the incident but were found to be "safe and well".

Other tributes were paid to Mr Calder online, with a tweet from the Orthopaedic Network saying his death was "a massive blow for orthopaedics".

A former patient of his wrote: "Shocked to hear of death of Stuart Calder. Reconstructed both my knees and was a credit to his profession."

Another woman described Mr Calder as "one of the best consultants I've ever worked with" and a "hero".

The RNLI has released a dramatic video of its attempt to save three surfers who died after being caught by strong currents off a beach in Newquay, Cornwall.

One of the victims was a 52-year-old surgeon from Leeds.

ITV News reporter Richard Pallot reports:

A 52-year-old hospital consultant was one of three surfers who died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Mawgan Porth beach in Newquay, Cornwall.

Stuart Calder and two other adults died despite rescue attempts by the public and emergency services.

Mr Calder was an orthopedic surgeon from Leeds and a father of four.

• Read: RNLI release video of attempt to rescue surfers

Four children were found 'safe and well' on the shore after a group of seven surfers got into difficulty in the sea in Cornwall.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the group consisted of four children and three adults.

It added: "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."

Two men and one woman have died after getting into difficulty in the sea off Mawgan Porth Beach in Cornwall.

The Maritime and Coastguard Agency said seven people with boards got into trouble in the water; four people were found safe and well on shore but three adults were recovered from the sea and treated at the scene before being transferred to hospital.

Police say the victims have not yet been identified and they are currently tracing their next of kin.

Supt Jim Pearce 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 Leeds man is thought to be among three people who died while surfing at a coastal beauty spot. Four children and three adults got into difficulty off Mawgan Porth beach in Newquay, Cornwall, yesterday lunchtime.

The adults were pulled unconscious from the sea and taken to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske for treatment in a serious condition but were later pronounced dead.

Police have not formally identified them, but they are believed to be a 52-year-old man from the Leeds area, a 44-year-old man from St Austell and a 42-year-old woman from St Austell.