ON Thursday, September 3, we carried an article entitled Snorkelling tragedy’, which we accept may have given a misleading account of events. This was due to inadequate checking of facts surrounding the sad death of Mr Andrew McKillup.
We now understand that Mr McKillup and his companion Ms Eileen Armstrong were swimming together off Beadnell Bay when Mr McKillup suffered breathing difficulties.
Ms Armstrong supported him in the water as he lost consciousness. Mr McKillup was then separated from Ms Armstrong by the rising swell and was later recovered by Seahouses RNLI. Ms Armstrong was helped ashore by a lifeguard.
The sea conditions were calm but with a substantial swell at about 200m from shore. We apologise unreservedly for the distress caused to Ms Armstrong and the family of Mr McKillup.
