Blackpool man drowns after rescuing woman in sea

Alex Gibson, 22, ran into the sea to save a woman who'd got into difficulty

Author: Dan DaviesPublished 2nd Aug 2021

A 22-year-old man has drowned after jumping into the sea in Blackpool, to rescue a woman who'd got into difficulty.

Alex Gibson, from Blackpool, went into the sea in the early hours of Friday. He was pulled from the water but was pronounced dead a short time later.

The woman managed to get to safety and was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital.

A GoFundMe has now been set up to raise money for Alex's funeral.

A spokesperson from Lancashire Police said: "We were called around 4.25am today (Friday, July 30) to a report a man and woman had entered the water off the lower Promenade, close to North Pier, Blackpool.

"Emergency services, as well as the Coastguard and RNLI Lifeboat teams, attended the scene.

"The woman returned from the water and was treated by paramedics before being taken to hospital for treatment.

"Following a search of the area, the body of a man was recovered from the water. He was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.

"The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be passed to the coroner in due course.

"Our thoughts are with the man's family at this sad and difficult time."

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