BOURNEMOUTH beach was evacuated this afternoon following reports of beachgoers in difficulty in the water.
Two air ambulances landed on East Beach and emergency responders swarmed the pier at around 4.30pm as crowds watched on.
Fire services were called to the scene alongside the Coastguard as part of a multi-agency incident that also involved police.
Eye-witnesses reported seeing three young men, possibly teenagers, being carried out to sea just after 4.30pm.
Another member of the public said that one was pulled from the water and had to be given CPR on the beach by lifeguards before being taken away by air ambulance.
An off-duty GP who rushed in to help described the victim receiving treatment on shore as “pre-teen”.
Beachgoer Ritta Saruchera said her daughter and her friend were in the sea at the time when they saw what happened.
She said: “They were coming back out of the water when they saw a teenage boy struggling. There was another one floating in the water.
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“We went to get help from the lifeguard and inform them of what was happening. There were three young men out there and they have been searching for a fourth.”
Michelina Forysiak, 15, was by the beachfront with her mum when the incident began.
She told the Bournemouth Echo one person was being assisted on the beach and within 10-15 minutes there was a second team of emergency response helping another person.
A spokesperson for South Western Ambulance service said two people were taken to Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital following the incident.
A Coastguard spokesperson said: “HM Coastguard has been assisting South West Ambulance Service after a call was received from Poole Bay RNLI Lifeguards about people in difficulty in the water.”
A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance said: “We were called at 16:07 on Wednesday 31 May to a sea incident in Bournemouth.
“We sent x2 air ambulances, x6 double-crewed land ambulances, x1 critical care car, x2 operations officers, x1 doctor, x1 hazardous area response team and x1 responding officer.
“We conveyed two patients to Royal Bournemouth Hospital and Poole Hospital.”
Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service said: “We were called to East Beach, Bournemouth at 4.39pm to support a multi-agency incident.
“We have crews in attendance from Westbourne and Springbourne, together with a technical rescue team from Poole.”
Dorset Police added: “Dorset Police received a report at 4.32pm on Wednesday 31 May 2023 from the ambulance service requesting assistance on the beach off Bournemouth Pier.”
The Sun has approached the Coastguard for comment.