A father has been praised by paramedics after he saved a swimmer's life on a busy Sussex holiday beach.

Chris Siddall spent two minutes giving the 21-year-old victim mouth-to-mouth resuscitation on a busy holiday beach after the man's lifeless body was dragged from the sea.

As his family and friends looked on, Mr Siddall, a trained first-aider, refused to give up hope and managed to revive the bather.

He had just arrived at Ferring beach, near Worthing, with his wife Yvonne, 42, and children Naomi, 12, and Sophie, ten, when the drama unfolded just yards from the Bluebird Cafe.

Mr Siddall, 42, said: "I saw the guy in the sea and thought he was just mucking around.

"After a couple of minutes I realised he was in trouble. Then two guys on the jetty dived in and dragged him out.

"I ran down to him and realised he was lifeless. I turned him over and there was froth coming out of his mouth. I searched for a pulse but couldn't find one.

"I gave him mouth-to-mouth while some other guys were giving him heart massage. After about two minutes he started breathing.

"That was such a relief. I was willing it to happen. I was shaking like a leaf. I understand the guy had only just celebrated his 21st birthday. His father arrived later and was distraught."

Mr Siddall, of Haversham Close, Crawley, put the swimmer into the recovery position and monitored his condition until an ambulance arrived.

His wife said: "He was not breathing at all and Chris gave him mouth-to-mouth.

"A lot of people rallied round to help, grabbing towels and blankets to keep the man warm."

A witness described the man as being blue in the face when he was pulled from the sea.

Mr Siddall, a technician with Horsham pharmaceutical firm Novartis, said: "I am a trained first-aider at work but I have never had to do anything like this before. Usually I just stick plasters on."

Police quizzed onlookers following the incident yesterday lunchtime to try to establish what happened.

Mr Siddall is not sure whether the swimmer had dived into shallow water and hit his head or suffered a fit.

He said paramedics were on the scene quickly and put the swimmer on a spinal board before taking him to Worthing Hospital.

A hospital spokeswoman refused to reveal the man's condition but said he had been transferred to another hospital, which she declined to name.