Man who died in Sussex sea rescue of London girl was from Sutton

Monday, May 28, 2012
1:53 PM

A man swept to his death after rescuing a five-year-old London girl from the sea off West Sussex was also from London, police say.

The incident happened at West Wittering beach, near Chichester, just after midday on Saturday.

The 32-year-old man, from Sutton in south London, and a woman, from Guildford in Surrey, entered the water after the young girl – who was not known to them - was being carried away from the beach by the tide.

The man was able to reach the child and pass her on to the woman who was able to bring the child safely back to her family on the shore.

But a Sussex Police spokesman said: “Tragically the man was unable to reach the shore himself and was recovered unconscious from the water by others at the scene.

“Despite efforts by members of the public and emergency services to resuscitate the man he was pronounced dead at the scene.”

The girl was on the beach with her family, who are from north-west London.