Man who drowned got caught in riptide after rescue

Peter Jeffery jumped into the water to help a woman and her dogs

A man who jumped into the sea to help a woman drowned after getting caught in a riptide, a coroner has ruled.

Peter Jeffery’s body was recovered two weeks after his rescue efforts at Burnham-on-Sea Beach, Somerset, on 29 October 2023.

Mr Jeffery, 68, from Newton St Loe, Bath, jumped in to help the woman after she and one of her dogs were "in distress" in the water.

His death has been ruled as misadventure by coroner Samantha Marsh.

An inquest on 10 September heard how Mr Jeffery jumped into the water by the jetty at Burnham Beach, which is a “particularly treacherous” section of water, at about 15.30 BST.

He was fully clothed in jeans, trainers and a snug boiler suit, which made it harder for him to swim.

Mr Jeffery got caught in a riptide and was unable to be rescued by those on the beach, the inquest was told.

His body was discovered near Stert Island on 12 November.

The woman went into the water after one of her dogs had fallen in

In November last year, Mr Jeffery's family said he would be "greatly missed by all".

“He always put others first before himself as a beloved dad, brother and grampy,” they said.

"The family would like to thank everyone involved in the search; the RNLI, Coastguard, BARB Search & Rescue, volunteers and Avon & Somerset police.”