A MAN died after rescuing a child from the sea off Chesil Beach.

The man, in his 40s and from north London, went into the sea yesterday at around 4.45pm near West Bexington, to rescue a child who had got into difficulties, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said.

It is believed the child was the man's son.

The man saved the child from the water but then got into difficulty himself, a spokesman for the MCA said.

He was rescued from the water by Lyme Regis lifeboat crew and airlifted to Dorset County Hospital by the Portland coastguard helicopter, but sadly the man was pronounced dead on arrival, the spokesman added.

Dorset Police, coastguard rescue teams, the coastguard helicopter and lifeboat crews were involved in the rescue operation.

A spokesman for the MCA said: “We received a 999 call about a child in the water. The gentleman in question had entered the water in an attempt to rescue the child, which he did, before he got into difficulties himself.”

He added: “We tasked the South Western Ambulance, they in turn tasked the air ambulance with a trauma doctor and a land ambulance.”

The ambulance crews attended to the child, who was taken to the hospital in Dorchester, the MCA spokesman said: “The doctors at the hospital said the child was fine.”

The lifeboat continued the search for the man and he was recovered shortly afterwards from the water.

The MCA spokesman continued: “He was flown by the coastguard helicopter 106 to Dorset County Hospital and unfortunately he was pronounced dead on arrival. The team did all they could. It is very sad.”

The spokesman added that a woman also went into the sea to help, but got out shortly afterwards. She was also taken to hospital along with the child and is also doing well.

A spokesperson from Lyme Regis RNLI said the lifeboat was launched at 4.42pm to a report of three people in difficulties in choppy waters. He said: "One man was found by the lifeboat crew in the water some 30metres offshore. He was lifted aboard the lifeboat and all three members of the crew applied CPR.

"The man was then winched aboard Rescue 106, the coastguard helicopter from Portland, and taken to hospital in Dorchester."

A Dorset Police spokesman confirmed that they were called at 4.45pm to the incident. He said:“Police, Her Majesty’s Coastguard and paramedics attended.

“A man aged in his 40s and from Enfield was recovered from the water.

“He was airlifted to Dorset County Hospital but has sadly died.

“The man’s death is not being treated as suspicious and the coroner has been notified.

“The man’s family have been informed.”

Linda Cooper, who owns the Blue Anchor Cafe at West Bexington said: “The ambulance, police and coastguards and air ambulance were all here. What happened was tragic ,it was a very traumatic time and it’s just so sad."

Jan Russell who watched the ordeal from her holiday home said: “I just couldn’t believe it. When I saw him being winched up I thought there was hope. It’s sad and I feel so sad for the family."

Shaun Collins, 51, from Oxfordshire and his family were down on the beach when the incident happened.

Mr Collins explained how he had watched a boy aged approximately seven or eight playing by the waves.

He said that a man who he believes was his father came and told him not to play so near to the waves.

Moments later a wave crashed over the boy and dragged him out to sea. The man then dived in after him.

Someone nearby called for the coastguard after it became apparent that the two had got into difficulty.

Mr Collins said: “Somebody got the boy in and got him onto the bank where a woman was stood who might have been his mother.

"We kept trying to throw the lifebuoy out to the man but we just couldn’t reach him. Everyone did everything they could and I think we were lucky to get the boy out.”

A spokesman for Dorset County Hospital confirmed that the child remained in hospital and the woman involved had been discharged.

West Dorset Councillor for Burton Bradstock, John Russell, said: ”It is very sad that it has happened.

“The thoughts of everybody are with the family of the deceased. “