Tributes have been paid to a mother pulled from the sea off a Cornish beach.
Roxanne Roberts, 41 was dragged from the water at Portreath beach in Redruth on Sunday afternoon.
The woman is thought to have suffered from a cardiac arrest after being rescued.
She was declared dead at the scene.
Posting on Facebook, her son wrote: ‘I love you mum, I literally don’t know what to say. I still can’t process this.’
Sign up for all of the latest stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
Her sister, who had been frantically appealing for Ms Roberts’ whereabouts, said: ‘Unfortunately, my sister never made it.’
A friend added: ‘Rest in peace. Gorgeous lady and kind soul that I was lucky to know.’
Her death is not being treated as suspicious, and a file is being prepared for the coroner.
Samaritans are here to listen, day or night, 365 days a year. You can call them for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit samaritans.org for more information.
Police were alerted to the tragedy at around 12.35pm following a report from the ambulance service.
Cornwall Live reported that officers were called to the beach to assist paramedics as the popular spot was full of sunbathers at the time.
One beachgoer wrote: ‘We tried so hard to save her.’
Another woman got into trouble while swimming at Porthcothan beach near Padstow.
Her body was recovered from the water at 4.21pm on Sunday.
Tips for open water swimmers
Pre-plan
Think about the water temperature and weather. Plan your exit before you get into the water and consider currents, tidal flow and wind direction.
Have the right equipment
Wetsuits help to manage exposure to cold water and insulate against the cold. They also keep you buoyant. Wear a brightly coloured swim hat and take a tow float and whistle to attract attention.
Know your limits
Manage the impact of cold water shock by entering the water slowly, making sure you have control of your breathing before starting your swim. All open water swimming should take place in water at 11 degrees or above, unless you are an experienced and competent cold water swimmer. Never swim alone and swim parallel to the shoreline.
Stay safe
If you do get into difficulty, it’s important you don’t panic. Stay calm and float on your back until you can control your breathing and then continue to swim once again or signal for help.
Its spring tidal range can be noticeable, considerably affecting water depth.
Beachgoers can be taken by surprise by quickly changing tides, the Met Office has warned.
Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
