Two rescued from sea after struggling in water

Coastguard officials advise people not to enter the water near Leasowe and to check tide times

Two people have been rescued from the sea after they were reported to be struggling in the water near a lighthouse, coastguard officials have said.

A police officer and a member of the public successfully swam to one of the casualties, who was "drifting quickly on the incoming tide" near Leasowe Lighthouse on Saturday morning, the Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team said

A coastguard rescue officer and other police officers managed to pull all three out, while the other casualty reached safety.

Both casualties were treated by emergency services at the scene and taken to hospital for further assessment.

Geoff Simmons, deputy station officer at Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team, said: "This was a time-critical rescue bravely carried out by the two rescuers.

"The incident could have been avoided by preparing before heading to the beach and checking the tide times and leaving the sandbanks with plenty of time to spare."

Coastguard officials advise people not to enter the water in the area as gullies were fast-flowing and "not swimmable".