Man drowns trying to save his daughter

A Churchstoke businessman has drowned trying to save his 10-year-old daughter in the sea off Italy.
He was today named as Simon Pearson of Old Churchstoke – the managing director of Jesmonite, a building materials firm based at Bishop's Castle's.

A beach worker also died after rushing to the girl's aid at the Bosco Verde beach in Ostuni, in the Puglia region of southern Italy, but the little girl survived.

It is believed Martino Maggi, 49, managed to bring the girl back to dry land but died after going back into the water to rescue her father.
The father-of-two had been at the beach with his family but was taken by strong currents in the sea after trying to reach his daughter.

Mr Pearson's wife Emma Jane, 43, was quoted in a national newspaper saying her husband "did everything he could to try and rescue her.”

She said: "They were swimming in the shallows at the beach but the tide pulled them into deeper water. Simon held on to my daughter's hand to keep her afloat but he became unconscious. I have two young children who have lost their dad. We are all traumatised.

"My husband worked hard all his life to provide for his family and he has now given his life to save our daughter."

Mr Pearson and Mr Maggi were eventually brought to shore and resuscitation attempts were made but both were declared dead.

A Foreign Office spokesman said: "We are supporting the family of a British man following his death in Puglia. Our staff are in contact with Italian authorities."