Man, 29, dies at popular beach during ‘first holiday with friends’

A sister has paid tribute to her ‘selfless and loving’ brother after he died on his ‘first friends holiday’ in Skegness.

Aaron Keightley, 29, was unconscious when he was pulled from the sea by lifeguards in Lincolnshire on Monday afternoon.

Despite their efforts to revive him, Aaron died there a short while later.

Now Aaron’s sister Shannon Smith is raising money to support their heartbroken family.

As well as describing their ‘heart-wrenching pain’, she also warned others to be careful while sea swimming.

Shannon wrote: ‘On June 30 my brother lost his whole future, he went on his first friends holiday and lost his life to the sea on Skegness beach.

‘The current took him so quickly and there is no fight against the sea.’

She said of the fundraiser: ‘We really want to give him everything and more and show him how loved and adored he is and always will be, there will never be another person like him so selfless and loving, everyone who ever met him loved him and we as a family would really appreciate any help you can give.

‘Aaron would give anyone his last pound, and nobody deserves a great send off like him. He will forever be 29.

‘No age to lose your life – his mum, dad and siblings are hurting beyond belief and we thank anyone who has taken the time to read his story.’

A spokesperson for RNLI Lifeguards Lincolnshire said: ‘At 3:30pm yesterday, lifeguards in Skegness recovered an unconscious member of the public from the water south of central beach, after he got into difficulty in the surf.

‘Despite their best efforts to resuscitate him, the casualty sadly passed away at the scene.

‘Our thoughts go to the family and friends affected by the incident, along with many of the beach visitors who witnessed the tragic events at the time.’

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