A nightclub doorman who risked his life to save a drowning teenager is to receive a top bravery award.

Steve Palmer stripped to his underwear and dived into the sea from Worthing Pier in a last-ditch bid to save the drunken clubber.

The 34-year-old, from Durrington, Worthing, reached the youth as he was being swept out to sea during one of the highest tides of the year.

On Friday, he will receive the Queen's Commendation for Bravery from Hugh Wyatt, the Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, at County Hall in Chichester.

Today, Mr Palmer admitted: "I thought I was going to die but I wasn't prepared to see him drown in front of me."

The commendation states: "On Saturday, August 18, 2001, a 17-year-old, who had been drinking, deliberately jumped into the sea off the pier at Worthing.

"Staff at Rutherfords nightclub (now Lush) situated at the end of the pier made several attempts to throw a lifeline to the youth, but he was pulled out to sea by the strong tide.

"Steven Palmer, who worked as a doorman at the nightclub, saw the young man was having difficulty remaining afloat and made the decision to jump into the sea in order to rescue him.

"Mr Palmer reached the teenager, who by now was distressed, but he was able to keep his head above water. He was in the heavy swelling sea about 15 minutes during which time he became tired and cold.

"He managed to reach the shore with the youth where he was then helped by the public and emergency services."

Mr Palmer said: "It was a spur of the moment thing. I didn't want him to drown in front of me. No one else was going to help so I just did it.

"I stripped down to my underwear and dived in. He kept going under and waving his hands, then popping back up and shouting.

"It was totally dark but I managed to locate him by the shouting. He tried to pull me under at one stage and I had to push him away but I finally got him by the scruff of the neck and towed him in.

"I couldn't get back to the pier because it was too rough and after about 25 minutes I dragged him on to the beach near the Litten Tree pub, about 400 yards west of the pier.

"Another five minutes and I would have had it. He thought it was a laugh one minute and then realised how serious it was."

Mr Palmer said he was a little disappointed the teenager had never thanked him personally but he did receive a letter from his mother.

Off-duty lifeboatman Ross Bowman, who witnessed the incident, said: "Steve was brave and did an excellent job. The guy he saved is lucky to be alive.

"I wasn't going to go in myself because I had been drinking but Steve decided to go in after him.

"Survival time in the water in those sort of conditions can be as little as five minutes."

After Mr Bowman raised the alarm on his mobile phone, lifeboats from Shoreham and Littlehampton were launched and the Sussex police helicopter was sent to the scene.

Mr Palmer went to Worthing Hospital for a check- up after complaining of a headache and cramp, the early symptoms of hypothermia, but returned to the club an hour later and had a bottle of beer.

He said: "If I had not got to him he would have gone. I didn't to it for the recognition. I did it because he was drowning but it is nice to be honoured."

Mr Palmer will be presented with his medal, one of the highest bravery awards in the country, in the presence of the Mayor of Worthing, Councillor Eric Mardell, and Worthing West MP Peter Bottomley.