“Jordan’s death wasn’t taken seriously”: recent tragedy revives 23-year fight for Seaton Carew lifeguards

A comprehensive review of water safety has been instigated by the council after further deaths

The deaths of two men at Seaton Carew last week devastated the local community and even made national news, after it was revealed that Ian Pascoe, a passer-by, entered the water to try and save Wayne Taylor and his children who had got into difficulty.

For the loved ones of Jordan Moon, this was a cruel case of history repeating itself, almost 23 years after the eight-year-old lost his life at the same spot.

Jordan Moon

His childhood friend, Becca Ringwood, spoke to me about the lasting impact that awful day has had, and why she continues to campaign for better lifeguard services at the beach, for this week’s edition of The Teesside Lead.

This weekend saw World Drowning Prevention Day on Saturday - and our national edition also focused on this issue with Natalie Morris highlighting the racial injustice of drowning deaths in the UK and the filmmaker who is trying to make a difference.

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Twenty-three years after the death of eight-year-old Jordan Moon, another tragedy has put lifeguard provision at Seaton Carew back under scrutiny.

After two men sadly lost their lives on the same beach on Sunday 12 July, a petition launched by Jordan’s loved ones is calling for year-round lifeguard services at the popular seaside spot.

The deaths of Wayne Taylor and Ian Pascoe, who entered the sea after Wayne’s children got into difficulty, have devastated the local community.

Both were recovered from the water by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) but pronounced dead a short time later.

In an interview with the BBC, Ian’s son, Dan Pascoe, criticised the lack of safety measures along the coast, asking: “Why does it take brave heroes such as my dad to put themselves in mortal danger for an obvious and all too common occurrence?”

Since 2017, lifeguard services have only operated at Seaton Carew during the school summer holidays and weren’t due to start until the following weekend (Saturday 18 July).

Councillor Graham Harrison, Leader of Hartlepool Council, said he was ‘heartbroken’ by the events and has asked for a full review of water safety measures along the borough’s coastline.

History repeating

For the friends and family of Jordan Moon, this is history repeating itself.

Jordan was eight when he died in August 2003 after being swept out to sea by a freak wave while paddling ankle-deep on the shore at Seaton Carew beach.

His schoolfriend, Becca Ringwood, who was 10 at the time, told The Teesside Lead it was ‘awful’ to think of another family going through the same thing.

“Honestly, there’s no way to describe just how traumatic it actually was,” she says.