A 33-year-old builder has relived his ordeal after rescuing an 11-year-old girl in the freezing waters off Jaywick.

The rescue has led to calls for signs to warn of treacherous tides and currents off the Tendring coast.

Jordan Russell said he was in front of his house in Sea Cornflower Way when he heard screaming.

He said: “It took me by surprise. I just went out and got her in.

“I took my trousers off and jumped in and the water was freezing. I’m not a strong swimmer. I haven’t swum for about ten years.”

It took about 20-25 minutes to reach the girl as she was “well out to sea”.

He said: “She couldn’t swim. She was clinging on to her rubber ring for her life. I held the rubber ring and pulled her back ashore.

“When we had got to the beach, the coastguard had arrived. I was shaking with cold and suffering from shock.

“She was in hysterics, both crying and screaming.”

Jordan says signs are needed saying the sea off Jaywick is dangerous.

Fellow Jaywick resident Malcolm McPherson supports his claims, saying he does not want Clacton and Jaywick to gain a reputation for drownings.

He also would like some recognition for Jordan’s bravery.

He said: “We don’t want Jaywick to be remembered as a place you drown. We want people to see the lovely beaches. When people come to Clacton and Jaywick, they do not come here to drown."

Malcolm said people getting swept out to see is a regular event.

He said: “There’s no information on the risks, no explanations of the tide and the undercurrents.

“If a 21-year-old can lose their life, as recently happened with the tragic kayaker, so can anyone.

“Jordan came out with blue legs from the rescue. This man needs to be recognised and rewarded with a certificate.

“We did not have another fatality in Jaywick because of him.”

The incident took place at about 5.30pm on August 7.

Tendring council spokesman Nigel Brown said the the issue was not simply one of the council putting signs up on the beach, as it is not in the council’s ownership.

“The beach at Jaywick is owned by Crown Estates and therefore it is not right or appropriate for us to put up signage – or anything else – on land that is not ours."