UPDATE: Hero rescues swimmer from sea in Littlehampton

Witnesses have described the man wading into the sea to pull out the struggling swimmer, who police said had suffered a ‘medical episode’.

The coastguard, police, paramedics and Sussex Air Ambulance were called to the scene.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency explained: “At 1:15pm Solent Coastguard received a 999 call that a swimmer was in difficulties off West Beach and was rescued by a member of the public.

“The Littlehampton Coastguard Rescue Team, South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene and the Littlehampton lifeboat was paged.”

The spokesman added that paramedics summoned the air ambulance and that the casualty was airlifted to a hospital in Brighton.

The casualty’s current condition is unknown.

n The Gazette wants to speak to anyone who helped out during the incident or who witnessed it. Please contact the newsroom on 01903 714135 or email [email protected]