Man drowns in Portmellon trying to save dog from sea

A holidaymaker has drowned while trying to rescue one of his dogs from the sea in Cornwall.

The man got into difficulties at Portmellon near Mevagissey while walking with his pets at about 11:00 GMT, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Officers called the death a "tragic accident".

Another member of his family tried in vain to help and the man was airlifted from the sea by a coastguard helicopter crew.

The family member, believed to be the man's stepdaughter, was rescued from the water by a member of the public.

A coastguard helicopter was involved in the rescue

"Sadly the man has now been confirmed as deceased," a police spokesman said.

"Initial reports are that the deceased entered the sea in an effort to rescue his dog which had gone into the water."

First rescue

A coastguard spokesman said: "Two people were recovered from the sea at Port Mellon near Mevagissey this morning.

"One was recovered from the sea by a member of the public and brought to shore.

"A second person was recovered from the sea by the Coastguard helicopter and was taken to hospital.

"The RNLI Lifeboat from Fowey and Mevagissey Coastguard Rescue Team were also in attendance."

It is not clear what has happened to the dog.

The airlift of the man was the first rescue operation by private firm Bristow, which took over air and sea rescue services in Cornwall from RNAS Culdrose at the start of the new year.