Two women die after 'going swimming' off Aberdeen beach

Two women have died after being pulled from the sea following a major rescue operation off a city beach.

Emergency services were called to the Esplanade in Aberdeen at 12.40am on Friday following a report that two females were in the water.

The pair were rescued from the water by the RNLI inshore lifeboat and were taken to hospital where they died. Police later said the women were aged 22 and 36 and were foreign nationals who lived in the city.

Chief Inspector Martin Mackay said: “Above all, my thoughts are with all of those who will be affected by this tragic incident. While officers continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding why these women came to be in the water so late at night, at this stage there appears to be no apparent suspicious circumstances.

From our initial enquiries which include speaking to a witness who was at the scene at the time, we understand that they entered the water for the purpose of swimming but sadly underestimated the conditions.

“Extensive efforts are ongoing to make contact with their next of kin however I’m sure you can appreciate this might take some time. Formal identification has not yet taken place and further information will only be released once the families of those involved have been fully informed.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the rescue personnel who attended and assisted at the scene during the night and did their very best to save the women involved. Our seas can be extremely unforgiving, conditions can change rapidly and I can’t stress enough the dangers of entering the water at any time of the day or night when you are not suitably prepared.

“Public safety is paramount and Police Scotland is committed to working with our partners to ensure people know of the dangers of entering any body of water whether you are swimming, sailing or walking near the water’s edge.”

A spokesman for Aberdeen Water Safety Group has also issued the following statement: “First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of the two women following this terrible tragedy. It would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time but we are obviously deeply saddened at the loss of two young lives and would like to extend our deepest sympathies to friends and families and our gratitude to rescue services who did everything they could to prevent the fatalities.”

Part of the beach was cordoned off with police tape on Friday morning and officers stood guard at the scene.

The coastguard helicopter and Aberdeen and Stonehaven Coastguard Rescue Teams were also involved in the operation.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "At 12.45am on Friday Police Scotland along with partner agencies from Scottish Fire and Rescue, Scottish Ambulance Service, HM Coastguard and RNLI attended a report of two people in the sea off of Aberdeen beach.

"Both people were recovered by the RNLI inshore lifeboat and taken to hospital where tragically, despite efforts to save them both, they sadly died.

"There are no further details available just now and our thoughts are with the individuals' families and friends at this sad time."