Woman dies after getting into difficulty at Helen's Bay in Co Down

The woman was one of three people who got into difficulty in the water at the tourist hotspot on Saturday.

Belfast Coastguard said several onlookers had attempted to rescue the trio – with one person entering the water.

They added that the three people were then taken to hospital.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Police received a report that the Coastguard had removed three people from the water. One woman was taken to hospital where sadly she has since died. Her death is not being treated as suspicious.”

A Coastguard helicopter, Bangor and Portaferry coastguard rescue teams, a coastguard Incident commander, Bangor RNLI inshore lifeboat and Northern Ireland Ambulance service all assisted at the scene.

Responding to the tragic news, Alex Easton MP said: “I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of a woman in her 60s following an incident at Helen’s Bay on Saturday afternoon.

“My thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time. 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.”

North Down DUP MLA Stephen Dunne added: "I was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of a woman following an incident at Helen’s Bay. My thoughts and prayers are with her family and loved ones at this incredibly difficult time.

"I want to pay tribute to the emergency services, coastguard teams and RNLI crews, as well as members of the public, who responded so quickly and bravely in very challenging conditions. Their professionalism and selflessness are greatly appreciated, and the whole community will be thankful for their efforts.

"Open sea swimming has become a very popular past time for many over the last number of years locally across North Down, and this tragedy is unfortunately a sad reminder of the dangers of the water."

Also passing on her condolences was Alliance North Down MLA Connie Egan.

She said: “This is an extremely tragic incident, one which has been felt deeply by all right across the community here in North Down, and further afield.

“First and foremost, my sincere thoughts and sympathies go out to the family and loved ones of the woman who sadly passed away, for whom this will no doubt be an incredibly difficult time. For those others who were also caught up in the incident and are currently in hospital, I hope they have a smooth and speedy recovery.

“Without the swift and professional action taken by our emergency services, including Bangor RNLI and Bangor and Portaferry Coastguard rescue teams, this no doubt could have ended even more tragically. I want to thank them for their efforts, as well as the members of the public who bravely stepped in to try and help.

“I would urge everyone making use of our beaches and coastlines to stay safe, and to please remain cautious and mindful of the possible dangers that may arise.”