Tributes paid to Peterlee grandad who died in Seaton Carew incident

The family of a Peterlee man, who died after getting into difficulty off Seaton Carew on Sunday, say he will remain in their hearts

Author: Ellie KumarPublished 16th Jul 2026

The family of a man who lost his life on Sunday 12th July when he entered the sea to help children in difficulty at Seaton Carew beach, have paid tribute to him today.

Ian Pascoe, aged 62, from the Peterlee area of Durham, has been described as a much-loved dad, husband, brother and grandad.

His family said today:

"It is with profound sadness that we confirm the death of our beloved father, husband, brother and grandad, Ian.

“As a family, we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the police, ambulance service, Coastguard and RNLI for their efforts, professionalism and compassion throughout this incredibly difficult time. We will always be grateful to everyone involved.

“We have been truly humbled by the overwhelming response from members of the public, so many of whom have clearly been touched and moved by this tragedy. The messages of sympathy, kindness and support have meant more to our family than we can adequately put into words.

“Ian will forever remain in our hearts. He was deeply loved, and the loss we feel is immeasurable.

“We will miss him always and carry his memory with us for the rest of our lives.

“We respectfully ask for privacy as our family grieves and comes to terms with our loss."

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