Snorkeller dies at Beadnell despite efforts of rescuers

Sep 4 2008 by Chris Robinson, The Journal

A SNORKELLER died after becoming ill off the Northumberland coast. A full-scale sea rescue operation was launched in a bid to save Andrew McKillup who got into difficulty in water close to Beadnell Harbour, near Bamburgh.

But the 40-year-old of Napier Court, Whickham, Gateshead, died despite two life-saving efforts by sea rescue crews.

Last night Humber Coastguard paid tribute to a passer-by who raised the alarm after hearing a woman’s screams coming from the water, at around 7.40pm Tuesday.

Watch manager Mike Green said his quick-thinking enabled a full-scale operation to be launched within minutes of receiving the call.

Mr McKillup was swimming with friend Eileen Armstrong at a location popular with divers.

Rescuers said that the woman had tried to pull him to safety but due to conditions was unable to do so and then she frantically tried to raise the alarm.

Search and rescue teams from Seahouses and Craster were launched as well as Seahouses RNLI inshore lifeboat.

Rescuers were able to spot Mr McKillup in the sea due to his bright yellow flippers.

He was given mouth to mouth resuscitation by a lifeboat crew and rescuers from RAF Boulmer as he was airlifted to Wansbeck General Hospital.

However, he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Seahouses RNLI mechanic John Hanvey said there was initially some confusion about how many people were in the water.

He added: “The inshore lifeboat crew were able to locate the man pretty quickly and as they arrived at the scene the woman who was with him had just managed to get to shore.

“The crew got the man into the lifeboat and started CPR and mouth to mouth resuscitation on him straight away, continued as they took him to shore and carried on until the RAF Boulmer helicopter arrived to transfer him to hospital.

“Everyone did everything they could to try and save the man and on behalf of everyone at Seahouses Lifeboat Station I’d like to extend our sympathy to the man’s family and friends.”

Mike Green added: “We would like to thank the first informant who acted promptly in dialling 999 and asking for the coastguard.

Last night, Eileen Armstrong said: “We were swimming about 250 yards from the shore in wetsuits when Andrew, got into difficulty breathing. I held his head above water while shouting and waving an arm at people on the shore.

“A swell took him out of my arms, I would never have left my friend. He was an irreplaceable, life- affirming man.”