AMBULANCE chiefs are investigating why paramedics were delayed trying to reach a man who died after saving his granddaughter's life on Lepe beach.

Emergency services were called after members of the public pulled 43-year-old Edward Moore from the water and started giving first aid.

Solent Rescue lifeguards were next on the scene, accompanied by the coastguard, who continued trying to resuscitate Mr Moore, from Southampton, who had been on a family day out before getting getting caught by the tide.

Eyewitnesses have criticised leader of volunteer rescue group the Venturers, Philip Pearce-Smith, for leading the ambulance away from the scene on to soft sand where it got stuck.

It is not thought the delay made any difference to Mr Moore's chances of survival.

One witness, who asked not to be named, said: "I couldn't believe it. The ambulance was called and it was led to the scene by a man on a quad bike with a blue flashing light. He took the ambulance on the road above the beach past the scene and down on to soft sand about a quarter of a mile away.

"The paramedics were furious. It probably cost them six or seven minutes - they could have just left the ambulance on the track and ran down the steps."

The League of Venturers Search and Rescue is a voluntary organisation made up of dozens of teenagers. Based in the New Forest and led by Mr Pearce-Smith, 74, it provides first aid support at local events.

Mr Pearce-Smith told the Daily Echo that he led the ambulance from the car park to the beach but drove past the scene because no one was there to direct him.

He added that when the ambulance got stuck he gave a paramedic a lift back to the scene on his quad bike.

Mr Moore died in Southampton General Hospital after being airlifted from the beach by the Solent Coastguard helicopter.

Rescuers He had swallowed water as he held his 18-month-old granddaughter above his head until rescuers could take her from him.

A spokeswoman for South Central Ambulance Service said: "We are looking into the details of the call out and gathering information internally to piece together what happened.

"This will be so we can pass information on to ambulance crews about future incidents."

The Southampton coroner's office has opened an inquest into Mr Moore's death.