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Helen’s Bay (Stock image)
A woman has died following an incident at Helen’s Bay in Co Down on Saturday.
The woman who passed away is reportedly aged in her 60s and got into difficulty in the water at the beach during the afternoon.
Offering his condolences, North Down MP Alex Easton said he was “deeply saddened” over the woman’s death.
“My thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time,” he added.
“I know the wider community will also be shocked by this very sad news.
“I want to pay tribute to the members of the public who bravely attempted to help, and to the emergency services who responded so quickly and professionally — including the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, Coastguard teams, RNLI, police, and all those involved in the rescue effort.
“Helen’s Bay is a place many families cherish, which makes this loss all the more heartbreaking.
“I would urge everyone to keep the family in their thoughts and prayers and to respect their privacy as they grieve.
“This tragic incident is a reminder of how quickly emergencies can arise around our coastline, and I encourage everyone to take care when visiting our beaches.”
In a statement the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said it received an emergency call shortly after 1pm on Saturday.
Two emergency ambulance crews, a rapid response paramedic, a Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), a critical care paramedic and an ambulance officer were dispatched to the scene.
Helen’s Bay (Stock image)
News Catch Up – Thursday 22 January
After being treated at the scene, two patients were taken to the Ulster Hospital in Dundonald, while a third was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast.
The PSNI has been contacted.