THREE children were pulled from the sea during a rescue operation at a Hampshire beach.
Two men swam out to save the youngsters in difficulty off Lepe Beach last night.
Coastguard and lifeboats raced to the scene to find one of the men face down on the beach and struggling to breathe.
He was given first aid and then handed over to an ambulance team.
The children, believed to be younger than ten-years-old, and other the man made it back to the shore safely.
The rescue effort involved Hillhead Coastguard, the Lymington and Cowes Lifeboats as well as a co-response unit from Hythe Fire Station.
A spokesperson for Cowes Lifeboat said: "The lifeboat crossed the Solent this evening to give follow-up support to a life-threatening drama that had involved three young children.
"The incident occurred at Lepe when two men swam out to the children, all believed to be under ten, who were clearly in difficulty.
"Although the rescuers and rescued safely reached the shore, the lifeboat arrived to find one of the men face down on the beach, struggling to breathe. He was given first aid by a lifeboat member, and also then checked by a fireman and a Lymington coastguard before being handed over to an ambulance.
"The lifeboat, which had launched at 5.48 pm, returned to station an hour later."
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