Mother and son in Aberdeen beach tragedy

A mother and son who died after a rescue operation at Aberdeen beach in Scotland have been named by police.

Julie Walker, 37, and Lucas Walker, six, from Aberdeen, were part of a group who got into difficulties in the water on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services were called at around 4.45pm and a major operation was launched, with five people pulled from the water and taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.

Ms Walker and Lucas, understood to be mother and son, later died in hospital.

Lucas’s brother, Samuel, “bravely” entered the water in an attempt to save his mother and brother and is making a “steady recovery” in hospital, police said.

A woman aged 25 and a man aged 28 were also taken to hospital, but have since been discharged.

The “heroic attempts” by emergency services and members of the public to save the group while facing “treacherous sea conditions” have been hailed by police.

Chief Superintendent Campbell Thomson said:

“Whilst officers continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident, it is clear heroic attempts were made to save Julie and Lucas by both on and off-duty police officers, emergency service personnel, and members of the public, facing treacherous sea conditions and high winds during their rescue bid.”