Drowning man dragged from waves

By jhedge laura dale ldale@heraldexpress.co.uk

A MAN is in critical condition in hospital in a drug-induced coma after he suffered a suspected heart attack while swimming in the sea off Beacon Cove in Torquay.

The swimmer, thought to be in his 30s, was spotted floating face down in the water about 25 yards off shore by two teenage girls who raised the alarm at about 4.30pm on Saturday.

Torbay Coastguards and RNLI inshore lifeboat located the man in the water. A coastguard volunteer, attached to a rope on the beach, swam to him and managed to pull him ashore.

He was placed on the beach, which was evacuated, and paramedics and Brixham coastguard Dr Alex Rowe battled to resuscitate him.

He was then taken by the inshore lifeboat to the pontoon at Beacon Quay where other paramedics continued with the fight to save him.

He was then taken to Torbay Hospital and placed on a life support machine.

The incident happened while a crowd of people were watching the Laser Qualifying Event involving about 142 laser dinghies and run by the Royal Torbay Yacht Club and Torquay Harbour.

Katie Gwynne and Keira Mayne were at the beach behind Living Coasts and saw the man enter the water at about 4.15pm.

Katie said: "We saw him swimming and then we didn't see him for ages. We called the coastguard. The coastguard then got him out of the water and were trying to resuscitate him on the beach. I was a bit scared and they sent everyone off the beach."

Keira added: "At first we thought he must be looking at something under the water but then we noticed that the waves were moving him so we called for help."

The casualty was transferred to the harbourside where paramedics continued to work on him before taking him to Torbay Hospital. Police also attended.

Witness Mike Ellis saw the drama unfold from Beacon Quay.

He said: "The inshore rib came in with the ambulance waiting for it on the pontoon. They came in very quickly. They put him straight into the ambulance and it was off. They were working on him all the way through."

It is thought the man, who has not been identified, was sitting having a drink on the beach before going into the water for a swim.

It is then thought he suffered a heart attack while in the water.

Assistant harbour master Nick Clarence said the rescue was carried out swiftly and professionally.

"We had a major sailing event going on and we had to make sure the lifeboat got into the harbour safely and the Laser dinghies were clear," he said.

"We assisted the ambulance and the lifeboat and got him on to a stretcher and away. There were several people on the quay, it was busy with competitors and their parents and friends."

A spokeswoman for South Western Ambulance Trust said: "The man was found face down 25 yards off shore. He had been swimming in the water and was wearing just a pair of trunks.

"Paramedics carried out full CPR and got a pulse. He was taken to Torbay Hospital and put on a life saving ventilator.

"We think he had been drinking alcohol. There will be a full investigation into the matter."

Police force incident manager Lesley Hect said they were alerted to the incident, which was not being treated as suspicious, by the coastguard.

"It is though he had a heart attack," she said.

"It seems he was sitting on the beach having a drink then he went for a swim.

"At the moment he is unconscious and stable and has been put in a drug induced coma."

Last night police were still trying to establish the identity of the man.

See dramatic video of the incident on this website