Holiday drowning victim is named

Red flags were flying all day warning people to stay out of the sea

A holidaymaker who drowned after getting into difficulties swimming in the sea in Devon has been named as Nigel Hunt, 41, from Newport.

He and his family were on holiday from south Wales when the incident happened off Teignmouth on 24 July.

He was airlifted to Torbay Hospital but later died. His son, who had been with him, was treated at the scene.

The family has since returned home. The Torbay coroner is expected to open and adjourn an inquest.

At the time of the incident red flags were flying on Teignmouth beach, warning bathers not to go into the sea.

Mr Hunt's wife and two other children were on the beach while the search for him and his son was carried out.

The waves were really, really high Lucy Cooper, eyewitness

A Devon and Cornwall police spokesman said: "This was a very, very tragic accident.

"The current got hold of them and the father got dragged under the water," he added.

Eyewitnesses reported a massive search operation to locate and rescue the pair from the sea.

Lucy Cooper, who was on the beach at the time, said: "I saw a huge helicopter, lifeboats, policemen, lifeguards. The waves were really, really high."

Local coastguards were able to pull the man's son from the sea and he was treated at the scene. He is not believed to have been seriously hurt.