A mother drowned in front of her son and his friend after she jumped into the sea to save them.
The woman, who was in her 30s and has been named locally as Danni, went to the boys’ rescue when they got into difficulty in a kayak yesterday, August 9.
The body of the woman was later pulled lifeless from the water after being caught out by the strong current at Waxham beach in Norfolk United Kingdom.
Horrified onlookers tried in vain to resuscitate her before paramedics took over, but she was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital.
The sad incident happened at about 5.30pm on Sunday, while the beach was packed with people.
The beach and nearby Sea Palling are notorious for having dangerous riptides which can sweep away unsuspecting swimmers.
Emergency services including Coastguard teams, ambulances, local paramedics and a rescue helicopter were sent to the scene after HM Coastguard received “multiple calls” about several people in the water who needed rescuing.
The woman was pulled lifeless from the sea and the boys in the kayak were brought safely back to shore by other holidaymakers.
The woman and her family are believed to have been staying on a local campsite next to the beach as temperatures soared over the weekend.
One witness posted on Facebook that the woman’s son had been let “utterly devastated”.
The woman posted: “I saw them having fun on the kayak and then saw them get in trouble so called the coastguard.
“Two heroes went in and saved the boys, but she also went in and was bought by someone called Finn with a surfboard. Absolute hero!”
She added: “Poor lads were watching the whole thing and will be traumatised for life. I’m utterly devastated for them all and want to help as much as I can.
“I never thought I’d see anything like that. Saw it from beginning to end. My friend who is a strong swimmer was in the exact same spot and managed to get out because she is a super strong swimmer.”