Beachgoers have told how they watched in horror as a swimmer drowned after rescuing a child at West Wittering beach.

The 32-year-old man from Sutton in Surrey was caught in an undercurrent moments after pulling the five-year-old girl on a rubber ring out of harm’s way.

The girl, who was from north west London and not related to the man, had drifted away from the shore on a tide on Saturday morning.

The man and a woman from Guildford leapt into the sea in West Wittering, near Chichester, to save the youngster. The man was able to reach the child and pass her on to the woman who was able to bring the child safely back to her family on the shore.

While the woman, who did not know the man, escaped unharmed the man was pulled unconscious from the water.

A Sussex Police spokesman said; "It is clear that this was a tragic accident, and there is no further police investigation. The matter is being referred to the Coroners Officer."

Meanwhile, another man survived a “near drowning” on Saturday afternoon.

Witnesses described how a hero beachgoer pulled the man from the water and called 999. Paramedics arrived within minutes and he was whisked to the Royal Sussex County Hospital, where he was last night still in a serious condition.

On Saturday Mark Bell, from Brighton RNLI, said they were called to three separate groups of youngsters who had strayed dangerously far out to sea on inflatables similar to the one in the West Wittering tragedy.

All of these incidents took place between 4pm and 6pm.

One of the incidents took place by the King Alfred Leisure Centre, in Hove, and the other two close to the Palace Pier.

Mr Bell said: “I want to warn people that winds can pull lilos out to sea and then people are trapped.”

But he said if people attempted to rescue youngsters of their own accord they could become pulled under and “quickly become cold and exhausted”.

As revealed in Saturday’s paper, there were no lifeguards on duty on Brighton beach for the busiest weekend of the year so far, as Brighton and Hove’s seasonal team only start training today.

As The Argus went to press last night it was not known whether there had been lifeguards on duty in West Wittering.

Crowds of families were on one of Sussex’s most popular beaches as the tragedy unfolded at about 11am on Saturday.

Paramedics battled to save the man for more than an hour.

One witness said he was with friends and wearing swimming trunks when the tragedy happened, as temperatures reached 28C.

A witness, a father from Brighton who asked not to be named, said: “We got there at about 11am.

“When we arrived the paramedics were there and were attempting to resuscitate him.

“They tried to resuscitate him for about an hour.

“They were pumping water out of his lungs and there were about three or four ambulances there.

“Lifeguards were surrounding him and I think when the helicopter landed people were still optimistic.

“But sadly it did not take him away and he passed away.

“The emergency services obviously did their best for him.”

He said he understood that the man had been swimming near where there was a red flag indicating an undercurrent in the water, adding: “After it happened people were told not to swim there.”

Another witness said: “The rescue team did everything they could and didn’t give up.

“The man died a hero and should be known as a hero.”

An Argus reader added: “Me and my family saw the incident – a tragic sight and a really sad time on such a beautiful day. I feel for the family and praise the rapid response of the life guards and emergency services.”

A Solent coastguard added: “A man was pulled from the water on the West Wittering estate after he had tried to help two children.

“Their mother was understandably upset that this man had had this accident when he had tried to help them.”

The RAF helicopter, lifeboats and Sussex Police searched the sea and land in Pevensey, near Eastbourne, Bexhill and Hastings, for more than six hours on Saturday after canoe washed ashore.

It was feared a canoeist may have drowned. However, it later emerged that the canoe had been stolen from an address in Hastings the night before and probably dumped.

Did you know the man and would you like to pay tribute to him? Email news@theargus.co.uk.