A SOUTHAMPTON man who was airlifted off a Hampshire beach has died in hospital.

The 43-year-old was with his 18 month-old grand-daughter and three other adults when they are thought to have become trapped by rising water at the spit at Lepe.

It is believed that the man stepped off the spit into deep water with the child in his arms.

He then held the youngster above the waves so bystanders could rescue the child, before he fell unconscious.

The man was then rescued by members of the public and given first aid on the beach by Solent Rescue lifeguards who performed CPR to resuscitate him.

Witnesses described how a coastguard mobile unit attended to the infant and the coastguard helicopter airlifted the pair to Southampton General Hospital at about 4pm yesterday.

Eyewitness Steve Holding, 52, of Lordswood, Southampton, was on the beach with his wife when he saw the drama unfold.

He said: "I suddenly became aware of screams from the water but thought it was people messing about. But the screams continued.

"One or two people reacted to the noise and found a group of about four people in the water not far out from the shore, up to their necks in water.

"The adult male was holding a small child above the water. One of the guys took the child from him and took him to the shore. But then the guy started wallowing around and looked like he was in trouble.

"He was rescued by another person, and people surrounded him and gave him first aid. But he didn't look good."

A spokesperson for Hampshire police confirmed the man had later died from the incident and that they were investigating what happened.

The young child is believed to be recovering well after being treated by paramedics and taken to Southampton General Hospital.