Paramedic makes lake rescue bid

A paramedic risked his safety trying to rescue a man from a lake in Sussex, South East Coast Ambulance Service has said.

Phil Wadey and his ambulance crew mate Peter Cronk were called to Wishing Tree Lake in Hastings on Monday afternoon.

They arrived to find a man about 30ft from land. Mr Wadey took a life-line and swam out before fire crews arrived.

The paramedic managed to bring the man back to land, where emergency teams tried to revive him, but he later died.

Fire and ambulance crews were called to the lake in Queens Way at about 1440 BST.

Our thoughts are with the family Tim Fellows

Mr Wadey, who has a life-saving certificate, said: "I don't know how long he had been in the water but I jumped in.

"We did everything we could to revive him but tragically it wasn't to be."

Tim Fellows, clinical operations manager for Hastings ambulance station, said: "We would not expect our staff to risk their own safety in this way but the fact that Phil did clearly shows how committed many of our staff are in helping patients.

"It is so sad that this young man died and obviously our thoughts are with the family at this time."

The man who died, who was thought to be in his 30s, has not yet been named.