A Luton man holidaying on the Norfolk coast was rescued by a teenager after the toy dinghy he was in drifted out to sea.

Trevor Edwards, 42, was pulled to safety by his daughter's 16-year-old boyfriend after getting into difficulties in the water when he tried to swim to back to shore.

The drama unfolded on the beach at Great Yarmouth at about 9.30am on Monday.

Using the paddle from the dinghy Mr Edwards signalled he was in trouble. His daughter's boyfriend jumped into the waves to bring him in to safety.

A member of the public called 999 and the coastguard rescue team and a lifeboat were dispatched, but the pair had reached shore when they arrived.

Mr Edwards had swallowed a lot of water and was given oxygen by the lifeboat crew before being taken to James Paget Hospital in Gorleston by ambulance for further treatment.

Coastguard watch manager Peter Wheeler said: 'The young man who went in after the casualty behaved in a very courageous manner, placing himself at considerable risk, but we would not normally recommend such action, particularly when the rescue services are only moments away.

'We would also like to remind the public that these toy inflatable dinghies are very dangerous if not tethered to the shore, but if anyone, child or adult, should find themselves being washed away, their dinghy becomes their lifeboat and they should remain on board as long as possible.'