Swimmer rescued in sea drama (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)

9:30pm Sunday 18th July 2010

A GOOD samaritan is being hailed a hero after helping to save an exhausted swimmer who was in danger of drowning in the sea.

The victim - a 39-year-old from Little Clacton - got into difficulty while swimming off Jaywick on Saturday tea-time.

He somehow managed to scramble onto the half submerged rocks of a breakwater but was struggling to hang on as he was battered by waves.

Lifeboat spokesman Alan Osborn said: "After ten minutes of clinging on he couldn't maintain his grip any longer and let go.

"By this stage he was in a very perilous situation."

Luckily a 32-year-old man on the beach spotted the victim struggling in the water and bravely raced into action.

"He swam out and managed to get both the casualty and himself onto the rocks of the breakwater," said Mr Osborn.

"Meanwhile a young lady who witnessed the unfolding drama put in a 999 call to Thames Coastguard."

Clacton's inshore lifeboat crew rushed to the scene and pulled the exhausted swimmer and his rescuer to safety.

They were taken to safety at Lion Point where the coast rescue team looked after them until paramedics arrived to check them men over.

Mr Osborn said: "Apparently both were none the worse for their ordeal."

He praised the victim's rescuer, from Old Harlow, adding: "He could well have saved his life."

Lifeboat helmsman Stuart Hare said: "The casualty was totally exhausted - it could have turned out to be quite nasty."

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