Brave bystander Jamie Stockwell, 47, threw himself in fully clothed to grab the woman, aged in her 30s (Image: undefined)
A man has revealed how he nearly drowned himself while attempting to rescue one of the Fistral Beach victims after diving into the water fully clothed.
Several people attempted to assist in rescuing the pair after they fell from rocks into the water below on Sunday evening, July 26 at Fistral Beach in Newquay. The tragic incident saw nine emergency vehicles, at least two lifeboats, and a helicopter race to the beach regarded as the home of British surfing, yet it proved insufficient.
Despite assistance from multiple bystanders and a fleet of paramedics, the rescue attempt ultimately failed, with a woman in her 30s and a man in his 60s – thought to be a daughter and her father – both losing their lives. The location is notorious for exceptionally powerful and hazardous rip currents, especially during outgoing tides.
Residents reported the sea conditions were “very strong” on Sunday evening.
Bystander Jamie Stockwell, aged 47, was among those who plunged into the sea fully clothed as he attempted to save the woman in her 30s. “I jumped in with all my clothes on. I didn’t realise how deep it was. It was very powerful swell, and I was lucky I wasn’t another casualty,” he told the Sun.
The family of the victims are hoping to retrieve a handbag that was carried into the water (Image: Submitted)
He said the woman was being battered relentlessly against the rocks by the powerful swell when he leapt in. “We were being hurled on to the rocks. I managed to push her up and her boyfriend pulled her up by the arms and started to try to give her mouth-to-mouth.
“She had swallowed loads of salt water. We tried to give her CPR for about ten minutes. I was trying to keep her partner calm as he was in pieces.”.
The woman’s father was dragged from the water not far from where Stockwell had himself hauled the woman onto the sand. The man, in his 60s, received CPR at the scene but also tragically perished. It is understood the pair were part of a family holidaying in Cornwall at the time.
People enjoying the sun at Fistral beach, Newquay, Cornwall . June 23, 2026. // The UK is bracing for its hottest June day on record, with temperatures forecast to rise above 35C (95F). The hot weather is set to continue this week – the Met Office has a rare red warning for parts of England and Wales from 09:00 BST on Wednesday until 21:00 on Thursday.Photo released 23/06/2026 (Image: William Dax / SWNS)
The Sun also reported that one witness – a local beach artist – claims the man had “gone in to try and rescue his daughter”.
Sand Phoenix, 33, said he “sprinted” up to help, jabbing the man with an adrenaline pen he had to hand and attempting to administer oxygen. His efforts to save the man’s life proved futile, however, as the victim’s lungs were “full of water”.
Mr Phoenix, who was sleeping on the beach at the time of the incident, said: “He had been pulled out of the water but had been in there about seven minutes.
“The paramedics arrived and carried on trying to give CPR. He was still wearing his trousers so I don’t think he had been swimming.
“It looks like they had been walking near the rocks and had fallen in.”
Another witness told the Sun: “A woman was desperately trying to ring someone but couldn’t get through [and] was in tears.
“There was a helicopter overhead and there was a lifeboat in the water. They recovered one body on the beach, while the other one was brought up the cliff.
“Another man came up soaking wet and in a foil blanket. He knew them and had been trying to help. I’m just in shock, it was awful to watch.”
Following confirmation of their deaths, officers appealed to the public to look out for a “leather-style” handbag measuring approximately 30cm by 30cm that the woman had been carrying at the time of her death.
The bag, described as “orange or peach in colour”, is believed to contain a number of cherished belongings that bereaved relatives “would take great comfort in being reunited with,” police said in a statement.
