Father dies after dinghy accident

Terry Woodward was airlifted to Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth.

A father-of-three who was thrown into the sea in mid Wales when his inflatable dinghy overturned has died.

Terry Woodward, 43, from Shropshire, was in the dinghy with two of his three children, when it was hit by a strong wave on Sunday near Borth, Ceredigion.

Mr Woodward was airlifted to Bronglais hospital in Aberystwyth after being recovered from the beach. The children safely reached the shore.

Paying tribute, his wife Ginny, 36, said he was a "brilliant dad".

His family, which also includes Daniel, 18, James, 16, and 10-year-old Tyler told the Shropshire Star newspaper they were coming to terms with the news.

Mrs Woodward, from Harlescott, Shrewsbury, who had been separated from her husband for three years, told the newspaper: "He was wonderful and had a heart of gold, he wouldn't hurt anybody.

He was wonderful and had a heart of gold Ginny Woodward

"He was a brilliant dad and he was just the nicest person."

She added that he would be missed by everybody who knew him and thanked the emergency services who helped in the rescue operation.

Mr Woodward, who was living with a new partner, Tracey Challinor, also leaves his mother Cynthia.

A Shrewsbury football club fan, he was in the sea with his children on the dinghy, but he got into trouble when the inflatable overturned.

A spokeswoman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the service alerted on Sunday at 1720 BST and a rescue helicopter was sent out from RAF Chivenor in Devon, along with Borth and Aberdyfi lifeboats.

"Milford Haven Coastguard received a 999 emergency call from a very distressed woman who had just witnessed a man go into the sea at Ynys Las, Borth, when his inflatable dinghy overturned," she said.

It was a fairly nice day but the warning for everyone is that even if the seas are calm there can be strong undercurrent Maritime and Coastguard Agency spokeswoman

"The lifeboat managed to recover the casualty to the beach were he was then airlifted and transferred to Bronglais hospital, Aberystwyth.

"Our coastguard was with the man's children when it was called out. It was very upsetting for them to see their father being airlifted to hospital."

"They did not require any medical attention but they were obviously very distressed by the situation."

The agency spokeswoman warned people about using dinghies.

She added: "It was a fairly nice day but the warning for everyone is that even if the seas are calm there can be strong undercurrent.

"There is a temptation to go out to sea when the weather is nice, but we advice people to wear inflatables if they do," she said.