A jet skier has died after getting into difficult off the coast of Devon – the third seaside fatality in the South West this week.

The 22-year-old man was rescued by a crew from the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) at Teignmouth on Tuesday evening.

Despite CPR being carried out by paramedics, he was later pronounced dead in hospital.

The death of the man, who came from High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, is not being treated as suspicious.

It comes as the RNLI appeals to the government to restrict access to the coast over public safety concerns.

A 17-year-old girl died on Monday and two other people were taken to hospital after a rigid inflatable boat capsized in Wadebridge.

On the same day, a man was pronounced dead after being pulled from the water at Treyarnon Bay in Padstow by a member of the public.

And in a third incident, surfers pulled an unconscious man from the water in Porthtowan, Truro. He is in hospital receiving treatment for life-changing injuries.

The chief executive of the RNLI appealed to the government to restrict access to the coast.

Mark Cowie said the lifting of some lockdown restrictions in England had put the charity in an “impossible situation” of choosing between keeping lifeguards or the public safe.

In an open letter, he wrote: “With thousands flocking to English beaches now lockdown restrictions have been eased, we must choose between keeping the public or our lifeguards safe.

“Safety advice and warnings will only go so far when people are desperate to enjoy some freedom after weeks of lockdown.

“As a lifesaving charity, the RNLI cannot stop people going to beaches – but the government can – before more lives are lost around our coast this summer.”

He added the charity must work out how to reduce the risk of infections while making in-water rescues and giving first aid.

“All this takes time and we learnt of the lifting of restrictions at the same time as everyone else,” Mr Cowie wrote.

“So, we’re asking for help to manage an impossible situation – we’re asking the public to heed our safety advice and we’re asking the government to restrict access to the coast until we have lifeguard patrols back on beaches.”

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