Blackpool man, 26, dies in sea after night out with pals

26-year-old Ashley West died at the weekend after he went into the water at North Shore.

The Blackpool man got into difficulty in the choppy sea on Saturday evening.

His friends desperately tried to pull him out of the water but were unable to hold on to him, according to Lancashire police.

Police were called by the ambulance service on Saturday at around 9pm, with the report that a 26-year-old man was unconscious in the water.

The Coastguard and RNLI deployed three boats to the scene, as well as the Coastguard helicopter.

Ashley was pulled from the sea near to Uncle Tom’s Cabin by the Coastguard, and brought to the shore.

He was rushed to Blackpool Victoria Hospital, where he later died.

Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious, and a file has been prepared for the coroner.

Force incident manager, Insp Steve Bradshaw, said: “Lancashire police are continuing to support the family during this tragic time.”

Friends and readers took to Facebook to speak of their shock and to pay tribute to Ashley.

Ross Edwards said: “An absolutely belting lad. Very, very sad news. RIP mate.

Amy Carlos Angle wrote: “Words can’t describe how tragic this is...God bless this man and his family.”

And Yvonne Freeston said: “So so sad. Thoughts are with his family.”

Just last month a fisherman told of his desperate attempts to save the life of a man who plunged 40ft into the sea from the North Pier.