Girl dies after falling from helicopter that rescued her from sea

Aoife Winterlich

A trip for a girl Scout turned deadly when she and a boy were pulled into the sea by a strong wave.

14-year-old Aoife Winterlich of Dublin, Ireland, walked along the coast at Hook Head, Co Wexford, with other Scout members when she was caught in a huge wave.

She and a boy were swept into the sea. Winterlich became unconscious and the brave boy held her head above water so she does not drown.

An emergency helicopter arrived 2:10 p.m. Due the conditions of the water, rescue workers made the decision to rescue both teens at once.

They were afraid that the boy would not be able to remain afloat until they returned for him.

However, as the rescue workers reached the door of the helicopter with the two teens, the 14-year-old girl slipped through the harness that was used in the rescue and she fell approximately 45 feet into the sea.

She was in the water for 31 seconds before she was rescued for the second time. Winterlich was taken to a hospital, where she died a few days later.

An incident report from the Air Accident and Investigation Unit Ireland (AAIU), revealed that the rescue workers made the best decision possible given the circumstances of the incident. 

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