Father drowned after saving his three-year-old son from rip tide

‘Amazing’ father, 30, who drowned while saving his three-year-old son from rip tide

  • David Cole tragically drowned while keeping his son’s head above water 

An ‘amazing’ father drowned after heroically saving his three-year-old son from a rip tide, his partner has revealed. 

David Cole, 30, and his toddler came into difficulty while at a beach with his partner Katie Macdonald and younger son, one, in West Mersea on June 11. 

After saving his son’s life by keeping his head above water, Mr Cole tragically drowned.

Describing Mr Cole, Ms Macdonald said ‘Dave was amazing. He was the best dad ever. He was like a big kid himself. All he ever wanted to do with the kids was have fun and make everything fun for the kids,’ she told the BBC.

She added that he is a ‘hero’, and put his son before himself to save his young life.

David Cole, 30, tragically drowned after saving his three-year-old son when they got caught during a rip tide at a West Mersea beach

Describing Mr Cole (pictured with Katie and children), his partner Katie Macdonald said ‘Dave was amazing. He was the best dad ever. He was like a big kid himself’

Following his death, Ms Macdonald is raising money for the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), and praised the rescue for their ‘amazing’ efforts. 

‘The lifeboat team arrived with in minutes and did everything they could possibly do for my partner Dave but sadly he didn’t make it and passed away there on the beach. 

‘My 3-year-old son who was in the water with him was beginning to drown but thankfully was got to in time. 

‘Apart from some shock he was fine and recovered well. In Dave’s memory I would like to raise money and gift it to the RNLI life boat team from Mersea island,’ she wrote on the GoFundMe page. 

She is also raising money for Colchester Hospital Children’s Ward following the incident, adding that staff there ‘were amazing looking after my family dealing with the loss of Dave’ and when caring for her son. 

A paddleboarder and tow lifeguards rushed to pull Mr Cole and his son out of the water and were assisted by RNLI crew as soon as they arrived a few minutes later.  

Also in attendance were the Essex and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance and the East of England Ambulance Service.

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