Grandfather drowns trying to get his dog's ball from sea

Witnesses say the man, thought to be in his 70s, died trying to help a relative in choppy seas

The man drowned in choppy seas off Portmellon, near Mevagissey, Cornwall (Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

A grandfather drowned on New Year's Day after trying to get his dog's ball from rough seas off the coast of Cornwall.

The man, thought to be in his 70s, was walking his pets at Portmellon, near Mevagissey, around 11am, Devon and Cornwall Police said.

Witnesses say he drowned trying to help a woman, believed to be a relative, after she got into trouble trying to get the dog's ball from the water.

Other reports say the man waded out to save his dog.

A local resident told The Mirror: "The lady had gone to retrieve the ball from the water and the guy went to help her.

"I believe he was deaf and someone was shouting to him to grab a buoy but he could not hear him. He was just drowning and appeared unconscious.

"Two coastguards used ropes to try and reach him but the sea was too strong."

A Devon and Cornwall Police spokesman said: "At 11.03am emergency services were alerted to persons in difficulty in the water off Portmellon near Mevagissey.

"Two people were subsequently recovered from the sea. One was recovered by a member of the public and brought to shore, the second person was recovered from the sea by the Coastguard helicopter and was taken to hospital.

"Sadly the man has now been confirmed as deceased, initial reports are that the deceased entered the sea in an effort to rescue his dog which had gone into the water."