Six die as strong winds batter British beaches

Seven people have been rescued from a boat off the coast of Norfolk on Sunday morning after it began to sink, the coastguard said.

The skipper called the coastguard for assistance at around 11.30am after getting into difficulties near Yarmouth Harbour.

Six of the seven were taken onto waiting rescue boats while the skipper remained on board helping the RNLI lifeboat to pump excess water from the vessel.

Jolene Smith, of the UK Coastguard, said: "This was a serious incident, but thanks to a well-trained and quick-thinking skipper and the correct communications and lifesaving equipment, we were able to ensure that rescue resources were quickly at the scene."

The woman who died after being rescued off the coast of Jersey last night has been named as Joy Godfray.

Today would have been her 32nd birthday.

Her family have described her as 'a darling daughter' and say they are shocked and devastated at her passing.

The family wished to pass on their heartfelt thanks to the members of the public and all the emergency services who fought to save the life of their daughter.

Jersey Fire Service's rescue boat and two RNLI Lifeboats were launched at about 8:20pm, after two swimmers were caught in extreme conditions off Green Island.

Emergency services found a male swimmer had been rescued by a member of the public who was an experienced swimmer, but Miss Godfray was dragged east by the rough conditions.

The RNLI were able to locate her between Green Island and Le Hocq, and she was placed on board an inshore Life Boat.

She was brought back to town on the boat, but later died in hospital.

Anyone who witnessed and has been distressed by this incident may call a 24 hour mental health liaison service via the Emergency Department at the General Hospital on (01534) 442264.

A man in Dorset has become the sixth person known to have died in separate incidents off the British coast amid strong winds and stormy conditions.

The man, whose identity has not yet been confirmed, who got into trouble outside the safe swim area at Sandbanks beach in Poole, at around 3.30pm on Saturday

The victim, who experienced difficulties in the rip current, was recovered from the water by lifeguards who performed CPR, Dorset Police said.

An air ambulance and paramedics attended, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

• Man killed after family swept into sea in Cornwall named

A mother and son who died after a rescue operation at Aberdeen beach have been named by police.

Julie Walker, 37, and Lucas Walker, six, from Aberdeen, were part of a group who got into difficulties in the sea on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services launched a rescue operation at around 4.45pm and five people were pulled from the water and taken to hospital.

Ms Walker and Lucas later died at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

In a statement, Chief Superintendent Campbell Thomson, from Police Scotland, said: "This is a very tragic incident and our thoughts are with the Walker family at this sad and difficult time."

He also thanked all those who were involved in the rescue operation, and urged people to be extremely careful when walking near the water.

"Our seas can be extremely unforgiving - even during the summer months - with conditions changing rapidly," he stressed.

• Man killed after family swept into sea in Cornwall named

A woman in her thirties has died after being rescued off the coast of Jersey last night.

Jersey Fire Service's rescue boat and two RNLI Lifeboats were launched at about 8.20 pm, after two swimmers were caught in extreme water conditions off Green Island.

Emergency services found a male swimmer had been rescued by a member of the public who was an experienced swimmer, but the woman was being dragged east by the rough conditions.

The RNLI were able to locate the swimmer between Green Island and Le Hocq, and she was placed on board an inshore Life Boat.

The casualty was then handed over to paramedics for further treatment, before being transported to hospital by ambulance.

The woman later died in hospital.

Police say the next of kin have been informed, and their thoughts are with the family and friends at this sad time.

• Video: Rescue boat struggles to launch in severe conditions

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to a woman and child who died after getting into difficulty in the sea off the coast of Aberdeen.

A seven-year-old boy and his 37-year-old mother died after being pulled from the water on Saturday, while three others who were also rescued remain in hospital.

Ms Sturgeon took to Twitter to express her condolences, saying her thoughts were "with all those involved".

Aberdeen Central MSP Kevin Stewart also posted: "Sorry to hear of the tragic event that has taken place at Aberdeen beach".

A windsurfer in his sixties has died in a Colchester hospital after being rescued by RNLI lifeboats off the coast of West Mersea in Essex, at around noon on Saturday.

A spokesman for Essex police said they are trying to establish what happened in the lead up to his death.

His death comes on the same day as similar tragedies struck in Aberdeen, leaving a young boy and his mother dead - and in Cornwall, where a man died after he and his family were swept into the sea.