A father drowned along with a member of the public who tried to rescue his two young children after they were swept out to sea, an inquest has heard. The tragedy highlights the dangers of coastal rip currents and the instinctive but often fatal risks bystanders take when attempting water rescues without lifesaving equipment or training.

The inquest heard how the children got into difficulty in the water before their father, Wayne Taylor, and passerby Ian Pascoe both entered the sea in a bid to save them, but neither man survived. Details of the exact location and circumstances of the incident, along with the coroner's findings, are expected to be explored further as the inquest proceeds.