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Boy dies in Blackpool sea
SHOCKED witnesses described how a 14 year-old boy was swept to his death in a sea tragedy in Blackpool.
A huge search and rescue operation was launched yesterday after the youngster, who was with two other boys, disappeared under the water as he was playing in an inflatable rubber ring near Blackpool's Central Pier.
More than 30 rescuers from Blackpool Coastguard, three lifeboats from Blackpool Lifeboat Station and helicopters from Lancashire Police and RAF Valley in North Wales, searched for two-and-a half hours for the youngster.
Tragically, the boy's body was discovered just yards from the shoreline just after 6pm by a passer-by.
Despite desperate attempts to resuscitate the boy, who is from the Northampton area, he was pronounced dead at 8pm.
John Huskinson, 18, from Poulton, who works on donkey rides on the beach, said: "I saw three lads playing on a large rubber ring right by Central Pier, one was younger and the other two were twins.
"Suddenly they started screaming and shouting as the ring tipped up, and one of the older boys disappeared. The next thing I saw was the other two running up the beach with the ring screaming.
"I alerted the Beach Patrol, but there's not much they could do, the current can be really strong.
"I've been here on the beach with donkeys for 10 years and I've never seen anything like this though, it's really upsetting for everyone who was here."
Ambulance crews took the 14 year-old to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where, despite desperate efforts to save him, he was pronounced dead with his family by his side.
A spokesman for Blackpool Police said: "We are very sad to report the 14 year-old died just before 8pm yesterday.
"His family is being looked after at the hospital."
FULL STORY, SEE THURSDAY'S GAZETTE
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Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: North west
