A SWIMMER who battled to save a drowning teenager near where tragic Stella Akanbi lost her life has told how he struggled to reach the youngster a quarter of a mile off the Clacton shoreline.

Richard Wilson risked his life after spotting the autistic boy in trouble.

He raced into the water and launched a heroic bid to save the panicking youngster, who was clinging on to a float.

Another swimmer had already tried to reach the boy, but had to give up because of exhaustion.

Richard, 44, could see the youngster’s father in the water frantically calling out for his son.

“He kept shouting for Daniel and screaming for help,” said Richard, of Coppins Road, Clacton.

“It was awful to see a dad swimming for his life to save his son.”

Richard shouted to wife Sharon, who was on the beach with son Charlie, aged four, to call the coastguard.

But he kept losing sight of the 15-year-old in the swell.

“I managed to get out far enough to get to the lad but he was swept away again,” said the printer.

“He was getting washed further out – I just couldn’t get hold of him and I was in a bit of danger myself. Then I saw a canoeist, so I screamed at him to go across to the poor lad.”

Another canoe joined the rescue and they managed to support the victim until a lifeboat arrived. Richard, who struggled back to the beach, thought the teenager was on a day trip from Suffolk.

“When his dad asked him what he was doing, he said he wanted to swim to France,” said Richard.

The drama happened less than a mile away from where 10-year-old Stella Akanbi’s body was found.

“It was a really close call,” added Richard.

“The thing that will live with me was the poor lad going under and coming up and going under and coming up again. The lifeguard said if it wasn’t for the canoeists, he wouldn’t have made it.”