Football club pays tribute to girl pulled from sea

Edie Smart was pulled from the water at Whitley Bay on Thursday

A football club has paid tribute to a 13-year-old girl who died after getting into difficulty in the North Sea.

Edie Smart, from Monkseaton, North Tyneside, died in hospital on Monday, four days after being pulled from the water at Whitley Bay beach.

Whitley Bay FC, where the youngster played, said it was "devastated" and planned to hold a minute's silence in her memory.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with her mother Louise, her father Paul, who is coach to our Under 15s Sharks team and all of Edie's family and friends," the club said.

"We propose to hold a minute silence in her memory ahead of Saturday's Emirates FA Cup tie."

The teenager was pulled from the water at the south end of Whitley Bay beach in North Tyneside at about 16:20 BST on 24 July.

Tynemouth RNLI and the Great North Air Ambulance were involved in the rescue attempt.

A spokesperson for Tynemouth RNLI said its crew had worked with a number of teams during the rescue mission, including those from other lifeboat stations, Blyth Coastguard Rescue Team, Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade and the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

"Sadly, it wasn't enough. All our thoughts from the crew at Tynemouth RNLI are with Edie's family."

Northumbria Police added the force was supporting her family and asked for their privacy to be respected.