Clacton Pier: 14-year-old girl dies after getting into difficulty in sea, say police

Fourteen-year-old dies in hospital while boy remains in critical condition

The teenagers got into difficulty in the waters around Clacton Pier. (PA)

A teenage girl has died after getting into difficulty in the sea near Clacton Pier, police said.

The 14-year-old was swimming along with two other teenagers who were pulled from the waters around the tourist attraction in Essex and treated on the beach.

Acting Detective Superintendent Paul Wells, of Essex Police, said: "At this early stage, we believe that three teenagers got into difficulty at sea and were recovered from the water."

He added: "A teenage boy and girl were taken to hospital in a critical condition. Of these, a 14-year-old girl has died in hospital, an 18-year old man is stable but remains in a critical condition, and a 15-year-old girl is expected to make a full recovery. The three casualties are related. Immediate family members have been informed and are at hospital.

"We are continuing to support the family at this unimaginably difficult time and are working closely with our partners."

Essex and Herts Air Ambulance said in a statement at the time: "They are helping to provide critical care along with our partners from the East of England Ambulance Service Trust and other emergency services."

A spokeswoman for HM Coastguard said: "HM Coastguard is currently assisting Essex Police with an incident at Clacton-on-Sea. Clacton and Walton Coastguard Rescue Teams along with Clacton RNLI lifeboat have been sent to the scene."

Clacton Pier opened in 1870, and sticks out approximately 150m into the North Sea off the coast of the popular seaside town.