A shortage of lifeguards at a Devon resort meant there was no-one on duty when a 42-year-old holidaymaker died after swimming in the sea.
Red flags were flying at Teignmouth warning people not to swim, but Teignbridge District Council has only been staffing the beach at weekends.
A strong underwater current has been blamed for the man's death on Thursday.
The council said it had not been able to find enough trained lifeguards but it hoped to fill the positions soon.
'Extremely sorry'
The man who died was pulled from the water by the lifeboat crew just after 1600 BST.
The man had been on holiday with his family, from the Cardiff area.
Phil Shears, deputy chief executive of Teignbridge Council, said: "We were extremely sorry to hear about Thursday's tragic accident, and our hearts go out to the family involved.
"At the moment a lifeguard service operates at weekends in Teignmouth, and when no lifeguards are on duty this is clearly posted on the beach."
A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "The current got hold of them and the father got dragged under the water."
Local coastguards were able to pull the man's son from the sea and he was treated at the scene. He was not believed to have been seriously hurt.
The death came amid warnings from RNLI lifeguards to pay close attention to the beach flag warning system, particularly in neighbouring Cornwall where big surf and low spring tides are currently forecast.
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