Swimmer missing on Cornish beach

A swimmer who went missing after entering the water at a popular surfers beach is feared drowned.

The 26-year-old Indonesian man appeared to get overwhelmed by the sea on Sunday afternoon while swimming off Fistral Beach in Cornwall with a female companion.

A surfer spotted the pair in difficulties in the sea and headed towards them on his board, according to the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

The male swimmer disappeared from view but the surfer managed to rescue the woman and took her back to the beach where he raised the alarm with RNLI lifeguards.

Falmouth Coastguard mounted a search, marshalling teams including a rescue helicopter from RNAS Culdrose, lifeboats and a Fisheries Protection vessel.

Martin Bidmead, Falmouth Coastguard watch manager, said: "We received the call from the lifeguards at 4.45pm ...and since then we have been searching for the missing man.

"So far, we have found no sign of him and so are very concerned for his welfare."

The woman was taken by air ambulance to Treliske Hospital, he added.