Elderly man dies after swimming off Weymouth Beach (From Thisisdorset)

Elderly man dies after swimming off Weymouth Beach

8:10am Saturday 4th July 2009 in

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AN ELDERLY swimmer collapsed and died after cooling off in the sea off Weymouth Beach.

The man, believed to be in his mid-80s, was pulled from the surf by beach lifeguards, who immediately contacted Wyke coastguards and paramedics.

He was airlifted to Dorchester's Dorset County Hospital, where doctors later pronounced him dead.

Police have not released further details of the man, but its thought he was relaxing at the beach with his wife.

Hundreds of people witnessed the drama as it unfolded opposite the Rex Hotel at 5.45pm on Thursday.

Maggie Aldridge, who runs donkey rides along the front, said: "I just heard someone shouting help. We were about to load the donkeys into the lorry when lots of people rushed down the beach.

"The ambulance was there in minutes, then the helicopter arrived.

"It is really sad news that he died - one of my helpers was chatting to his wife before it all happened."

While much of the country basked in a heatwave, Weymouth Beach was packed with holidaymakers and locals soaking up the sun.

Portland Coastguard sector manager Rob Sansom said: "Our thoughts go out to his friends and family. But the operation went like clockwork - we couldn't have got him to hospital any quicker."

The coastguard helicopter landed on the beach because the air ambulance was tied up elsewhere in the county.

Mr Sansom said: "We always have trouble landing the helicopter on the beach - its amazing how many people are unwilling to move away.

"They get out of the way eventually but when they see a coastguard helicopter heading towards them, at first they don't seem to think about where it is going to land.

"Luckily the tide was out - there's more beach there and the wet sand is easier to land on.

"We gave him every possible chance to survive, which makes this particularly sad."

The West Dorset Coroner has been informed of the death.

EARLIER in the day the Portland Coastguard helicopter was scrambled to a cliff path at White Nothe, near Ringstead Bay, east of Weymouth Beach.

A woman walker, aged 66, slipped and broke her ankle.

She was winched into the helicopter, around 1.40pm, and flown to Dorset County Hospital for treatment.