A father and daughter have died after getting into difficulty in the sea at Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, according to BBC News.
Emergency services, including the RNLI and coastguard, were called at about 21:45 BST on Sunday after reports that two people had been taken from the water.
Devon and Cornwall Police said the pair, a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s from Doncaster, South Yorkshire, were pronounced dead at the scene. A file is to be prepared for HM Coroner.
Police said officers were trying to find a handbag belonging to the woman. The force said it understood she had entered the water carrying an orange or peach-coloured shoulder bag, believed to be leather-style and about 30cm by 30cm, containing personal items of significant sentimental value.
The force said the family would take great comfort in being reunited with the belongings if possible, and appealed for anyone with information to contact police.
A cordon was put in place while emergency services worked at the scene but has since been removed.
Newquay Mayor Drew Creek described the news as “awful” and said the town was “feeling sombre”. He said his thoughts were with the families affected and thanked emergency services and rescue teams.
Ross Macleod, water safety manager at the RNLI, offered condolences to the families and friends involved. He said the deaths were a tragic reminder of the dangers of open water and urged people, where possible, to use lifeguarded beaches and swim between the red and yellow flags.
