A father has told how he saved a woman from drowning in the sea.

Vasileios Petropoulos, 38, was enjoying the weekend sunshine on Brighton beach with his 20-month-old daughter Henrietta and fiancee Margarita.

Vasileios, a physiotherapist at Brighton General Hospital, sprang into action when he heard calls of distress

He said: “We heard ‘help, help’ from the sea, about 100 metres from the shore. Without any second thoughts I immediately decided to dive in, leaving my toddler with my partner.

“I am an ex-lifeguard from Greece and whilst I saw others approaching the victim, I knew my duty was calling, knowing that people can drown from trying to rescue someone.

“She was having a panic attack and swallowing water but I managed to reach her in time and used one of the lifeguard rescuing techniques to pull her out safely.”

Vasileios, from Peacehaven, wants to use the incident, which happened last weekend, to make people aware of the dangers of the water.

He added: “I would like to emphasise that 400 people in the UK each year drown and the majority are not very far from the shore.

“Most could be prevented with a lifeguard on duty. I strongly think we should have lifeguards on duty longer hours in the day, especially at the weekend.”

A spokesman from the Coastguard said: “A report was made to HM Coastguard at about 5.45pm on May 25 that a person had been assisted from the water at Brighton beach by members of the public.

“She was reported to be safe and well and did not require medical assistance.”

It was not the only bank holiday sea rescue  a child and a man were blown out to sea on an inflatable toy off East Beach in Selsey.

A fisherman from the area rescued the two people and along with the lifeboat managed to get them back to shore.

A spokesman for Selsey Coastguard Rescue Team said: "Once safely ashore safety advice was given and no medical assistance was needed.

"Blow-up toys and airbeds are designed for pools, not the sea where they can easily be blown offshore."