A father who died alongside another man helping two children in difficulty in the sea has been named locally as Wayne Taylor.

It is understood the men were brought back to shore at Seaton Carew beach, in Hartlepool, at about 15:45 BST on Sunday by the RNLI, but both were pronounced dead a short time later.

The youngsters were taken to hospital as a precaution and confirmed to be safe.

Cleveland Police said formal identification was yet to take place and it was continuing to carry out enquiries on behalf of the coroner.

Labour Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash described the men’s deaths as a “heartbreaking tragedy” for the town.

On Monday, Hartlepool Borough Council leader Graham Harrison, of Reform UK, said he had asked for “a full review of the current water safety arrangements at Seaton Carew” and across the area’s coastline.

The beach is only covered by lifeguards during the summer school holidays, which have yet to start.

Seaton Carew Independent councillor Sue Little has asked for lifeguards to be put in place from May until the end of September, and a petition calling for the provision to be extended outside the school holidays has received more than 1,600 signatures.

Hartlepool, Redcar and Staithes Coastguard Rescue Teams attended the emergency on Sunday, as well as police and the North East Ambulance Service.

Davey Short, who had been walking along the beach, managed to pull one of the children – a boy – to safety on his second attempt.

“I realised something was not right because there was a woman screaming and shouting,” he said.

“I ran straight in and dived into the water, I got a bit scared myself and came back in a way to get my bearings.

“I wish I could have done more. I would do it again if I had to, I’m a dad with kids of my own.”

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