A tragic incident occurred in Thornton Cleveleys, Lancashire, when a woman in her 60s lost her life and a man of a similar age remains in critical condition after entering the sea to rescue their pet dog.Emergency services, including the HM Coastguard, attended the scene near Fleetwood Beach Café at around 8.31pm.Both individuals were treated on site before being transported to hospital, where sadly the woman was pronounced dead.The dog was recovered unharmed.Police have confirmed that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

This incident highlights the dangers of entering open water, even for strong swimmers, especially during emergency situations when conditions can rapidly become hazardous.

It comes amid a series of water-related deaths during a recent May heatwave, including several teenagers and other adults across the UK, illustrating the risks associated with open-water swimming during extreme temperatures.