Tragedy at Dorset coast as man 'dies suddenly' at West Bay

Emergency services rushed to West Bay this afternoon.

Police officers cordoned off part of the Esplanade, near to the ice cream kiosk, as they responded to the incident, along with the ambulance service and the coastguard just after 3.30pm.

The cordon was set up either side of the kiosk, but the beach remained open. 

The ambulance service sent one ambulance crew along with an operations officer, whilst three police cars and one coastguard truck were also seen along the Esplanade.

Cordon in place at the beach kiosk on West Bay Esplanade (Image: Hollie Carr)

Dorset Police has confirmed an elderly man 'died suddenly' at the pier.

The man's next of kin have been informed, the force said, and his death is not being treated as suspicious.

One passer-by described the moment they saw the emergency services arrive at to the scene as a 'rush of blue lights' but said they did not know what was going on.

Another person walking along the beach said: "I just came into Bridport and the ambulance and blue lights came past me. I have got no idea what is going on.

"They have taped off a little area around the ice cream parlour."

Emergency response in West Bay after a body was found near the Esplanade (Image: Hollie Carr)

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: "Dorset Police received a report at 3.37pm on Thursday of the sudden death of an elderly man on the pier at West Bay.

"Officers attended with the ambulance service and the death is not being treated as suspicious.

"The man’s next of kin has been informed and our thoughts are with them at this difficult time."

A spokesperson for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) said: “We were called at 3,41pm on Thursday, November 14 to an incident in West Bay, Bridport.

"We sent one double-crewed land ambulance, and an operations officer, to the scene.”

The coastguard was also approached for comment.