A 19-year-old man has died after emergency services believe he got into difficulty in the sea close to the pier at St Annes.

Emergency services were called at around 7.20pm yesterday (Friday, July 23) after reports of a person drowning.

HM Coastguard attended and the man from Preston was rescued from the water and taken to Blackpool Victoria Hospital but sadly died a short while later.

A Police spokesperson said: “The man’s next of kin are being informed and our thoughts are with his loved ones at this time.

“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the exact circumstances surrounding his death and it is not currently being treated as suspicious.”

“Three other casualties were taken to hospital to be treated for water inhalation.”

Anyone who witnessed the incident is asked to contact the police on 101 or email 8121@lancashire.police.uk quoting log number 1515 of July 23.