An inquest has been opened into the deaths of two men who died at Seaton Carew after entering the water to assist children in difficulty.
Formal hearing at Middlesbrough
The preliminary hearing took place at Middlesbrough Town Hall, where the coroner recorded the provisional cause of death for both men as drowning. Emergency services including police, ambulance, the coastguard and the RNLI attended the incident on the beach.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Location | Seaton Carew beach |
| Deceased | Ian Pascoe and Wayne Taylor |
| Provisional cause | Drowning |
| Other casualties | Two children taken to hospital as a precaution |
Both men were taken to Hartlepool lifeboat station and given treatment by paramedics but were later pronounced dead. Two children involved in the incident were conveyed to hospital for precautionary checks.
Coroner awaiting further material
"The provisional cause of death for both men is drowning,"
The coroner for Teesside and Hartlepool, Paul Appleton, said he was still awaiting a number of witness statements and other material before setting a date for the next hearing. Inquests are statutory proceedings intended to establish who has died and how, rather than to attribute criminal or civil liability.
- Emergency services responded to the incident on the beach, including RNLI and coastguard teams.
- Both men received treatment at Hartlepool lifeboat station but did not survive.
- A further hearing will be scheduled once outstanding statements are received.
The deaths have prompted an official process to examine the circumstances in full. The coroner's office will consider witness testimony and any other evidence before reaching a conclusion at a later hearing. Local authorities and rescue organisations typically use such findings to inform future safety advice and operational responses.
Further updates will be published when the coroner sets the date for the resumed hearing and when additional information is released to the public.
