Double beach tragedy: Mother and son, 7, are killed as families playing in the sea are washed away in Aberdeen and a father dies after being swept off rocks in Newquay with his children

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Tragedy has hit Britain's beaches as three people including a mother and her seven-year-old son were left dead after getting swept out to sea in two separate incidents in less than 24 hours.

Three people, understood to be a mother and her two sons, got into trouble while playing in the water off the coast of Aberdeen in Scotland. The 37-year-old woman and her son later died in hospital.

While in Cornwall the man, his wife and their child - three members of a family-of-five - came into difficulty after being washed into the water by big waves.

It has also emerged that a windsurfer has died in an accident off the Essex coast after high winds battered the seas.

The victim, a Colchester man in his 60's, was pulled from the sea and flown by air ambulance to Colchester Hospital six miles away from Mersea Island but was sadly pronounced dead on arrival. 

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A person has died after a mother and two children got into trouble while playing in the sea off the coast of Aberdeen

The mother was rescued by an RNLI jetski while the father and daughter were taken aboard lifeboats by lifeguards

Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team and two RNLI lifeboats were dispatched into the water for the rescue, pictured

North of the border, officers from Police Scotland rushed to the busy beach boulevard at around 4.45pm as members of the public put themselves at risk by jumping into the sea and pulling family to shore.

The woman and two children were said to be playing on a flat stretch of sea wall that runs the length of the beach when they encountered difficulties.

A 13 year-old boy, 25 year-old woman and 28 year-old man remain in hospital for treatment. Officers are currently liaising with the next of kin; further information will be issued once they are fully informed.

Chief Inspector Stewart Mackie said: 'This is a very tragic incident which has resulted in a woman and young boy sadly losing their lives - it will undoubtedly bring shock and sadness to the entire city of Aberdeen and further afield. 

'As we work with partners to establish the full circumstances of today's events, we urge anyone who witnessed the incident or perhaps have information that could assist, to make contact with Police via 101'

'Given the recent weather conditions we'd urge members of the public to take care, especially when near coastal or beach areas.' 

Witnesses described the weather conditions as 'squally' with gusts of wind battering the coast and the tide fully in.   

Inspector Lorna Ferguson, who coordinated the beach front rescue mission, said: 'We got called down about 4.45pm after reports of three persons in the water at the beachfront in Aberdeen.

'It appears that all three were possibly playing in the water. It appears to be a mother and two boys.

Inspector Ferguson said it was not a 'typical' day for people to be playing in the water due to the weather conditions and that they were making enquiries as to what had happened in the lead up to the trio getting into trouble. 

RNLI crews deal with the scene at Aberdeen as police paramedics arrive on the coast to help those involved

Choppy waters crash against the sea wall at Aberdeen where the family got into trouble while playing in the sea

Paramedics and members of the public gather at the scene of the tragedy at Aberdeen earlier today

Witnesses described the weather conditions as 'squally' with gusts of wind battering the coast and the tide fully in

One of the children is believed to be aged around six or seven with the other youngster described by police as 'slightly older'.

The inspector added: 'We are speaking to witnesses and reviewing CCTV at the scene.'

She also said anyone with any information that could help establish the lead up to the beach front drama should get in contact with officers. 

Inspector Ferguson said: 'There are a lot of business premises and restaurants down on the seafront and we have officers going round them all.

'We are appealing for anyone who may have witnessed how these people came to be in the water to come forward to us.

'We are just trying to piece everything together at the moment.' 

In Essex, the West Mersea lifeboat was launched just before noon today (Saturday) after a 999 emergency call about concerns for a man in the water out in the estuary.

The father and daughter were then airlifted to hospital but he later died of his injuries, the coastguard confirmed

A spokeswoman for Essex Police said: "The man is believed to have been windsurfing. Next of kin have been contacted and police enquiries are continuing to establish the events leading up to his death."

Better known as a yachting centre, Mersea Island has in recent years become a hub for wind and kitesurfers as the Blackwater estuary widens out into the North Sea.

The Met Office issued a yellow "high winds" alert for the East Anglian coast today warning that winds could gust at more than 50 miles an hour. 

Lifeboat crews launched off Fistral Beach in Newquay, Cornwall at 5.20pm on Friday after receiving a 999 call.

Lifeguards rescued the woman using their jetski while the man and child were recovered from the water by an RNLI lifeboat.

The man and toddler were airlifted to hospital where the man later died.

The girl is believed to be fighting for her life in hospital after she was rescued from the water along with her parents. Two other children managed to get back on the rocks sustaining only minor injuries.

The family of five from Surrey had been confronted by treacherous conditions, according to the Falmouth Coastguard. 

Weather conditions at the beach, which is a surfing hotspot in Cornwall, made for large waves yesterday evening

James Instance of the Falmouth Coastguard told BBC Radio 4 news: 'The conditions were extreme. We went through a 24-hour period where the waves went from half a metre to three to four metres.

'You are probably looking at 10 foot breaking waves in this area. People swept in to the sea, very close to rocks. 

'I think eventually that when they were found they were 50-60m off in what were absolutely treacherous conditions.' 

Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team, two RNLI lifeboats, a Coastguard helicopter police and paramedics attended the rescue.

The conditions were treacherous according to the coastguard at Falmouth, who said the region was hit by 13ft waves and 10ft breaking waves.

The spokesman said the rescue had involved a 'significant response' team including helicopters, lifeboats and police.

An RNLI spokeswoman said: 'They were on rocks when there were big waves.'

The mother appeared to be conscious as she was brought ashore but her condition remains unknown 

The rescue operation began at around 5.20pm yesterday after a 999 call was made by witnesses to the tragedy

A spokesperson from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said: 'The UK Coastguard received a 999 call at 5.20 pm last night reporting that a family of two adults and one child had been washed into the sea off Fistral Beach and were in difficulty.

'RNLI lifeguards rescued a woman using their jetski and a man and two-year-old child were recovered from the sea by an RNLI lifeboat.

'The child and man were taken to hospital by the Coastguard helicopter and the helimed helicopter. The man, sadly, has since died in hospital.'  

The man and child were airlifted to a local hospital, believed to be the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Treliske, in two separate helicopters.

Writing online, eyewitness Grant Purvis said: 'This was heartbreaking to watch this afternoon. Goes to show the real power of the water we all love.

High winds and huge waves, pictured, battered the Cornish coastline this weekend with seas still rough as the rescue took place

Two different helicopters were used to airlift the father and daughter to hospital after they were taken ashore

Warnings have been put in place along the beach urging holidaymakers not to go into the water

'Huge mention and respect to those involved in the operation, they were so quick on the scene and did all they could.'

It comes as high winds and huge waves batter the Cornish coast this weekend.

In spite of the tragedy, locals have reported seeing people ignoring red flags and braving the raging waters.

Writing on Facebook, Ros Kenn said: 'Just back from walking the dog down Mawgan Porth.

'One sole person in at 9.30am body-boarding in the raging sea there despite lifeguards red flag up from yesterday.

'Lifeguards not there til 10am and a young family were going to go in bodyboarding too but fortunately they had more sense.'

Emergency services were quickly on the scene and their efforts have been praised by onlookers

Paramedics treated the father and daughter at the scene before taking them to hospital via air ambulance

Onlookers took to social media after the incident to pay tribute to the emergency services involved in the rescue

Ana Taylor Garcia said: 'I was on Tolcarne and people were just ignoring the red flag and the advice from the lifeguards.

'We need to understand that the water is dangerous and she deserves our respect.'

People have been spotted entering the rough sea this morning, despite red warning flags telling people not to swim.

Onlookers took to social media after the drama unfolded to praise rescuers.

Chris Hanbury wrote: 'Just witnessed the amazing @NewquayRNLI and other emergency services workers making several rescue attempts in #Newquay. #Heroes.'

Becs McNeill added: 'Huge respect for @NewquayRNLI and @MCA-media seeing them in action today. Everyone in our prayers #Newquay.'

Witnesses gathered outside restaurants in the area after the air ambulance landed and the rescue operation unfolded

The incident occured at Fistral beach in Newquay, pictured, after '13ft waves' struck the rocks

Next of kin have not yet been informed and formal identification has not yet been carried out on the man.

Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances of the incident and are appealing for witnesses.

Anyone with information is being asked to attend Newquay police station today (Sat) between 2pm and 4pm, and tomorrow between 10am and 2pm.

Investigating officer Detective Constable Jarrod Yewen, from Newquay CID, said: 'This is a tragic incident and our thoughts are with the family at this difficult time.

'We are investigating the circumstances of the incident and we would like to speak to anyone who was on the beach at the time.

'We are asking people to attend Newquay police station today or tomorrow to enable them to talk to us in person about this incident.'

Anyone unable to attend the station is asked to contact police via email at 101@dc.police.uk or by telephone on 101, quoting log number 681 of 19/08/16.

A photograph showing two people in the waves off Fistral Beach around the same time the family were swept off the rocks was taken by a passer-by. This was a separate incident. 

This photograph of two people in the waves off Fistral Beach was taken by a passer-by at a similar time the family were swept off the rocks. This was a separate incident