A holidaymaker has died after being swept out to sea – while trying to rescue his DOG.
Trevor Priest, 63, was only in the sea to try and rescue his beloved Golden Retriever who had got into difficulty in the water.
Emergency crews including the lifeboat, coastguards and the rescue helicopter were all scrambled to Dunderhole Point near Tintagel, Cornwall, after the alarm was raised.
Police say they were told a man in his sixties was “in distress” as teams raced to the scene.
Trevor, who was on holiday from Stratford Upon Avon with his family including wife Gill, was winched to safety and flown to the Royal Cornwall hospital, but doctors couldn’t save him.
A spokesperson for Devon and Cornwall Police said: “Police were informed at around 12.50pm on Tuesday 27th September that a man 63-year-old man was in distress and in the water near Dunderhole Point, Tintagel.
“Coastguard and police attended as did the air ambulance, who took the man to Treliske Hospital where he was pronounced deceased.
“The man was from Warwickshire and his next of kin have been informed.
“A file is being prepared for the coroner.”
A spokesperson for Port Isaac lifeboat said: “Port Isaac lifeboat was tasked to reports of a person and dog in trouble in the water off Dunderhole Point, Tintagel.
“The lifeboat arrived on scene just after the coastguard helicopter. The helicopter located the casualty and winched him on board.
“The dog was recovered by the lifeboat and taken back to Port Isaac.”
The rescue attempt happened on Tuesday, but details have only just been released.
Following the news, tributes have begun pouring into Trevor.
Jacqueline Washington wrote on facebook: Words cannot express. Trevor was such a fabulous man and was a lovely neighbor to my parents.
“It was only a few weeks ago he attended my Dads funeral. Rest in Peace Trevor. You were very special.”
Francesca Magari added: “I’m so sorry to hear about this. Trevor Priest was an absolute legend and such a lovely bloke.
“This breaks my heart. Love and prayers and thoughts to your family at this sad sad time.”
Trevor’s family say they feel like they have been “robbed” after he died trying to save the family dog.
Trevor was married to Gill, 58, and had two children Megan, 27, and Nick, 29.
The dog that he saved was called Alfie.
Paying tribute on behalf of his family, nephew Roy Freer, 43, of Newton Abbot, Devon, said: “You won’t find anyone with a bad word to say about Uncle Trev.
“That’s because all he was was positive; an amazing and loving husband, a devoted and brilliant father, a caring and great Uncle, a respected and appreciated workmate, a talented and fun teammate.
“He was loved by everyone he knew and to lose him this way feels like robbery. RIP Uncle Trev.”
