Two people, including a teenage girl, have died following separate incidents on the Cornish coastline.
A third person is fighting for their life in hospital following several incidents off the coast on Bank Holiday Monday.
Devon and Cornwall police said a teenage girl died after a rigid inflatable boat overturned at Wadebridge in north Cornwall.
And a man died after he was pulled from the sea at Treyarnon Bay at Padstow.
Lifeboats and a coastguard rescue helicopter were scrambled to a series of serious incidents off the coast of Cornwall.
The RNLI launched lifeboats from Rock, St Agnes, St Ives and Padstow.
Falmouth coastguard has been inundated with calls today dealing with serious incidents at Constantine Bay, Harlyn and Treyarnon Bay.
Holidaymakers and locals were warned about not going into the sea over the Bank Holiday because of large waves and rip tides.
Lifeguards are not operating on the beaches because of Covid-19, adding to the problems.
Devon and Cornwall police said: "Police were notified of several separate incidents along the Cornish coastline this afternoon which have resulted in two fatalities.
"Police were first made aware of an incident at around 2.25pm following reports of an upturned RHIB (rigid hulled inflatable boat) in the water near Porthilly Rock in Wadebridge.
"The Air Ambulance and Coastguard were in attendance at the scene assisting with three casualties.
"All three people were taken to the lifeboat house before heading to Treliske Hospital.
"Sadly, a teenage girl was later pronounced deceased. Her next of kin have been informed.
"Police were notified by the Coastguard of another incident which happened
at around 2.30pm at Treyarnon Bay in Padstow.
"Emergency services attended the scene following reports that a man had been [pulled from the water by a member of the pubic. He was pronounced deceased at the scene.
"The man has yet to be identified and next of kin to be sought.
"Officers were called to a third incident at around 2.30pm following
reports that a man had been pulled from the water unconscious by surfers in
Porthtowan, Truro.
"He was transported to Treliske hospital by the Air Ambulance in a serious condition and is currently receiving treatment. His next of kin is present."
Chief Inspector Ian Thompson said: "These are extremely upsetting circumstances and out thoughts go out to all involved.
"It has been a very tough day for local emergency services and we are asking for anyone with information on the above incidents to contact police."
A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency has issued an official statement.
Coastguards told CornwallLive: “HM Coastguard received a 999 call about a person in the water at Treyarnon Bay.
"An RNLI lifeboat from Padstow and Padstow coastguard rescue team were sent to the scene, along with a coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Newquay. An off-duty RNLI lifeguard on a rescue board took the person to the lifeboat, where they were treated by a paramedic from the helicopter.
“HM Coastguard received multiple 999 calls reporting an upturned small boat on the Doom Bar sandbank at the mouth of the Camel Estuary in Padstow. RNLI lifeboats from Rock and Padstow were sent, along with coastguard rescue teams from Polzeath and Padstow.
"The lifeboat from Rock brought one person, who was trapped beneath the vessel, onboard and back to Padstow lifeboat station, where they were passed into the care of South West Ambulance Service.
"Three other people who had been onboard the vessel were taken onboard Padstow Harbour RIB.
“HM Coastguard received a 999 call about an injured person in the water at Porthtowan beach, St Agnes, who was being assisted back to shore by several surfers.
"RNLI lifeboats from St Agnes and St Ives were sent, along with a coastguard rescue team from St Agnes. A coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Newquay was also sent and took the person to hospital.”
CornwallLive reports that four lifeboats and the coastguard rescue helicopter are attended a series of serious incidents off the Cornish coast this afternoon.
It comes after it was revealed some beaches in Cornwall will be left with no RNLI lifeguard patrols this summer because of a "drastically reduced service".
A Cornwall councillor said he fears lives could be lost on the county’s beaches this summer.
