Second man, 26, was airlifted to hospital and is in 'serious condition'

Man, 54, died after struggling in the water in Sea Palling in Norfolk

One man has died while another was pulled unconscious from the sea after they were caught in a riptide off a Norfolk beach.

The swimmer, 54, was rescued from Sea Palling by lifeguards this morning but died later, while the second man, 26, has been airlifted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and is said to be in a serious condition.

Two other people - a 16-year-old boy and a man in his 20s - also struggled in the water but managed to make it to shore with difficulty - as temperatures soared to a sweltering 27C on Saturday.

One man has died while another was pulled unconscious from the sea after they were caught in a riptide in Sea Palling in Norfolk (pictured, rescue helicopters at the scene)

The man who died was allegedly found struggling in turbulent waters between two sandbanks that were allegedly not patrolled by lifeguards.

Three land ambulances, two air ambulances, the Humber Coastguard rescue helicopter and three local coastguard teams took part in the rescue operation, along with two RNLI inshore lifeboats from nearby Happisburgh.

Police officers were alerted by HM Coastguard at 11.47am to reports that two men had been rescued after struggling in the water.

Norfolk Police said from their official Twitter account: 'Officers currently assisting @EastEnglandAmb & coastguard after reports of two men recovered from the sea after getting into difficulty.'

An East of England Ambulance Service spokesman said: 'It's an ongoing incident, at the moment there are two patients.'

The swimmer, 54, was rescued from Sea Palling by lifeguards this morning but died later, while the second man, 26, has been airlifted to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and is said to be in a serious condition (pictured, a rescue helicopter)

Two other people - a 16-year-old boy and a man in his 20s - also struggled in the water but managed to make it to shore with difficulty as emergency services rushed to the scene (pictured)

A spokesman for Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service said they were called at 11.44am to attend Beach Road, which leads to the coast.

A police spokesman told the Great Yarmouth Mercury: 'The incident is on-going at this time and officers are assisting the East of England Ambulance Service and HM Coastguard at the scene.'

A witness going by the Twitter handle 'NR2' wrote: 'Never seen so many emergency response vehicles in my life, coast road to sea palling, stay safe out there.'

The man who died was allegedly found struggling in turbulent waters between two sandbanks that were allegedly not patrolled by lifeguards

Three land ambulances, two air ambulances, the Humber Coastguard rescue helicopter and three local coastguard teams took part in the rescue operation

A witness said: 'Never seen so many emergency response vehicles in my life, coast road to sea palling, stay safe out there'

A spokesman for the Humber Coastguard said: 'UK Coastguard received multiple 999 calls from members of the public at Sea Palling beach in Norfolk after a group of people were caught in a rip tide.

'Humber Coastguard requested the RNLI inshore lifeboats from Happisburgh and Coastguard rescue teams from Happisburgh, Mundesley and Winterton. Lifeguards were also at the scene.

'Two air ambulances attended and a Coastguard rescue helicopter from Humberside was also on scene. All swimmers were recovered from the water and two people have been transferred to hospital.'

The incident comes on the first day of summer holidays for most pupils.



It comes as youngsters jumped off Folkstone Harbour into the sea in Kent on Saturday