THE incredible actions of two 16-year-olds helped save the life of a man spotted floating, unconscious in the water.

The man is believed to have fallen from a boat which capsized in Chichester Harbour at about 12.30pm yesterday.

He was spotted by the two boys, with one of the pair calling 999 as the other dived into the water carrying an extra life jacket for the casualty. The teenager was able to support the man while his friend stayed calm under pressure and reported the incident to the Coastguard.

Coastguard teams, harbour patrol and several ambulances were called to the scene, with the HM Coastguard helicopter from Lee-on-Solent also being scrambled to assist with the incident.

By the time crews arrived and the man had been brought back to shore, he had regained consciousness.

Dai Jones, Duty controller for HM Coastguard, said: “There is no doubt in my mind that these two lads kept their heads and did exactly the right thing in their respective situations.

“Knowing to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard, and knowing exactly what to say to help us with the search and rescue, saves vital moments in life and death situations.

“The other lad did exactly the right thing too, safely giving aid to make sure the man in the water stood the best chance of survival.”

After he was brought to shore, the man was passed into the care of teams from the South Central Ambulance Service.

With the easing of the Government’s lockdown guidelines last month, many people have taken the opportunity to return to the water to swim and take part in watersports.

But HM Coastguard has warned people to be careful after the service saw its busiest weekend of the year on March 30-31.

HM Coastguard Duty Commander Matt Leat said: “Very high numbers of people took to the beaches, coast and sea this weekend which led to a huge increase in the number of incidents.

“Boating, swimming and other sea-based activities are now allowed again across the UK, as is spending time on the beach. However, now more than ever, people need to respect the sea and the coast to ensure the safety of themselves and their families.

“Regardless of how well you know the coast, or how experienced you are in your chosen sport, the sea can still catch you out. If you are visiting the beach with your children, have fun but stay safe. Make sure you have sight of your children at all times. In addition, the Government guidelines around social distancing should continue to be observed by everyone in the UK.”