A 48-year-old visitor to the island has died after getting into difficulty at a Southampton beach, police confirmed this afternoon.

A spokesman said police and emergency medical personnel were called to Horseshoe Bay Beach shortly after 3pm yesterday, following reports that two men were having trouble in the water.

He said both were brought on to the beach, where medical staff commenced life-saving measures. Both men were taken to King Edward VII Memorial Hospital for treatment.

However, one of the men, said to come from the United States, was pronounced dead, while the second was treated and discharged.

The spokesman added: “A police family liaison officer is now assisting the relatives of the deceased during this difficult time.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact Pc Jennifer Suter on 295-0011 or via e-mail at jsuter@bps.bm.

A witness told The Royal Gazette that she was walking on the beach with a friend when they spotted a swimmer in difficulty.

She said the man was about 40 yards out and people were trying to reach him.

The woman said that a rescuer reached the man after several minutes and pulled him ashore using his surfboard.

People onshore performed chest compressions and used a defibrillator machine on the man.

The woman, who described herself as a certified Red Cross lifeguard, said she had tried her best to give directions to those attending to the man.

She added: “The entire incident took about ten minutes.”

The Department of Parks said yesterday that, because of rough seas, high surf notices had been posted at South Shore beaches and public parks and that no lifeguards would be on duty this week at Horseshoe Bay.

The department urged beachgoers to prioritise safety, follow the posted warnings and stay informed about conditions.