A FIVE-year-old girl from Salisbury has died after being rescued from the sea on Wednesday.

HM Coastguard were called to Durdle Door, in Dorset, at about 11.30am, to reports of a woman and child in distress in the water.

The woman was rescued from the water by a member of the public.

A Ministry of Defence military range safety vessel which was in the area and responded to a Mayday broadcast recovered the girl from the water.

The five-year-old was taken by the RNLI Weymouth Lifeboat to Weymouth, and transferred by the ambulance service to Dorset County Hospital, where she was pronounced dead later that evening.

Staff members and visitors to Durdle Door and nearby campsite expressed sorrow and shock at the death.

“It’s so sad, and on such a beautiful day,” said Jo Muir, manager of the campsite shop.

“Luckily these things don’t happen often at all. It’s one of those accidents - it’s said, and we hope we don’t see it ever again.”

Sarah Cooke, sitting on the beach in the morning sunshine, professed shock when told of the incident.

“I am really surprised,” said Ms Cooke, who had travelled down for the morning from Bristol with her dog and teenage daughter. “You don’t expect things like that to happen here - it’s so peaceful. We love it here.”

Another holidaying couple, Bob and Paula Vickers from the North Cotswolds, said they had been at Lulworth Cove at the time of the incident the day before, but had noticed the search-and-rescue helicopter and other emergency vehicles.

“The sea was so rough,” said Mr Vickers. “We saw a guy get forced out of his canoe onto the rocks by the waves - they were coming in really strong, even though the weather was still.”

A fundraising page has been set up to support the girl's family.

In an online message, the girl’s grandmother said their pain is “so raw”. Thank you so much for your messages of love and support,” she said.

“We are so thankful for all your prayers at this difficult time.”

While the circumstances of what happened are being investigated, rescuers have issued a general warning for people flocking to the coast to be safe.

“Before you go [to the beach] you should check locally so you know there are no rip tides, and make sure you tell someone where you’re going,” said Andy Sargent, coxswain of Weymouth Lifeboat.

He said it was preferable to swim only from lifeguarded beaches.

Mr Sargent added: “If you find yourself in trouble, we advise people not to do anything for the first minute or two – just collect your thoughts and get your breath back. Then you can swim towards safety, and use one hand to attract attention.”

Detective Inspector Steve May, of Dorset Police, said: “Our thoughts are with the family of the young girl involved at this very difficult time.

“At this time there is nothing to suggest this was anything other than a tragic accident however, with the sudden death of any child we have an obligation to carry out an investigation to establish the full circumstances of what happened.

“I am appealing to anyone who witnessed how the girl came to be in the water and has not already spoken to police to contact us immediately.

“There were also a number of visitors in the area at the time and I am appealing to anyone who may have filmed or photographed the incident to please get in touch as it may assist our investigation."

A spokesperson from the Coastguard said officers received "multiple calls" reporting a woman and a child in the water.

A mayday call was broadcast and the MOD vessel was "almost immediately on scene".

"Lulworth and Wyke Coastguard Rescue teams, the Weymouth RNLI lifeboat, HM Coastguard Lee-on-Solent search and rescue helicopter, Dorset Police and the South Western Ambulance Service, along with their helicopter, were sent to the scene," the spokesperson said.

"The child was brought ashore and transferred into the care of the ambulance service."

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dorset Police at dorset.police.uk, via email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or by calling 101, quoting incident number 18:127.