Overview

• Edie Smart died on July 28, four days after rescue teams pulled her from the water off Whitley Bay beach.
• Coastguard, RNLI lifeboat crews, air ambulance, ambulance service and police worked together on a rescue described as one of the most difficult in recent memory.
• Northumbria Police deployed specially trained officers to support Edie’s next of kin and have appealed for their privacy.
• The local football club and community members have left flowers and messages at the promenade ahead of this weekend’s minute of silence.
• The tragedy underscores the dangers posed by strong North Sea tides and currents and the importance of coastal safety awareness.