A FATHER leapt into action to save his three-year-old son when he stopped breathing.

The boy is now recovering after a day out at the seaside turned into a nightmare when he started choking.

The father of the boy was able to get his son breathing again before medics took over.

It happened at the Cobb in Lyme Regis late on Saturday afternoon.

RNLI lifeguards and volunteer lifeboat crew in Lyme Regis have been praised for their part in the rescue, ensuring medical aid was on scene swiftly and the child was evacuated to hospital.

The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was scrambled and people were kept back as it landed on the beach, close to the Cobb. It later airlifted the boy to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

The RNLI said crews were alerted to an incident involving a 'seriously unwell child' on Lyme seafront on Saturday.

A spokesman said: "As duty lifeguard Billy Uppard walked along the promenade he saw a child on the floor with his father over him performing CPR.

"The duty lifeguard called for support and the responder bag from the lifeguard hut to be brought over. An ambulance was immediately called.

"After the father had given breaths and CPR to the child he was now breathing so the RNLI lifeguards gave oxygen and made the child as comfy as possible until further agencies arrived."

Paramedics arrived soon after and took over the care of the child before the air ambulance arrived.

A spokesman for South Western Ambulance said the service was called at 4.51pm after reports of a young boy who was ‘unresponsive’.

The spokesperson added: “It is believed the boy had begun choking and an ambulance was called to the incident.

“CPR was carried out at the scene and the boy was believed to be alert and crying before being transported to Dorset County Hospital.”

Lyme Regis lifeboat crew, who were involved in events for the first day of their annual Lifeboat Week, and the crew assisted lifeguard Rich Middleton in clearing an area of the beach to allow the helicopter to land.

The RNLI said the helicopter landed and deployed a doctor before relocating to a nearby field.

The boy was then taken by ambulance to the helicopter and then airlifted to DCH.

It is understood the child has since been discharged from hospital and is recovering at home.

RNLI Lifeguard Supervisor Alice Higgins said: ‘I am very proud of the way both lifeguards dealt with such a serious incident.

"They remained calm, putting into practice their training, assisting the boys father with vital casualty care, prior to the arrival of paramedics. It was great to see everyone come together to provide the best possible care for all involved."