HE risked his own life to save that of his granddaughter and paid the ultimate price for his selfless act.

Edward Moore, who was airlifted off Lepe Beach after saving the life of his baby granddaughter died in hospital just hours after the dramatic rescue.

The 43-year-old from Atherfield Road, in Maybush, Southampton, was at the beach with his partner, his 11-year-old daughter, his daughter's friend, his son and his granddaughter.

He was playing a ball game in waist-height water off a sandbar with his granddaughter, daughter and his daughter's friend.

A police spokeswoman said the ball was thrown out into the water and the man passed the baby to his daughter and went to fetch the ball.

It is believed that the tide began to come in rapidly and Mr Moore's daughter became out of her depth in the water and passed the baby back to her father.

Mr Moore then got into difficulty himself and lifted the baby above his head, out of the water, as he attempted to get back to shore.

Family members helped get the baby back to the shore and members of the public went to aid Mr Moore but he was brought to land unconscious after he had been under the water for some time.

Eye-witnesses said the two men started CPR to resuscitate him before Solent Coastguard and ambulance crews were on the scene at around 3.30pm on Sunday afternoon.

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

He said: "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 man was holding a small child above the water. One of the guys took the child from him and took her 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.'' Helen Whitehouse, from Hedge End told the Daily Echo how her husband Nick was one of the rescuers.

"We heard two girls were screaming before we realised what was going on," she said.

"Nick and another man managed to swim out to him but his head was already under. They put him in the recovery position and my husband started doing chest compressions while the other man gave him mouth to mouth."

Mrs Whitehouse said that for a while Mr Moore started breathing again.

"My husband told him his family were safe and he nodded at him," said Helen.

Senior coxswain Ian Blomquist from Solent Rescue said lifeguards on the beach joined the rescue effort and continued resuscitation.

A police spokeswoman confirmed that despite resuscitation attempts Mr Moore was pronounced dead at the hospital.