Swimmers have been warned to beware of strong tides after a man died off the coast of Southend.

A massive search operation in the waters off Thorpe Bay and Shoebury was launched yesterday (Monday) and the 27-year-old victim was plucked from the water by helicopter.

He was taken to Southend Hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Three RNLI Southend lifeboats, together with the Essex Police launch, Southend council patrol boats and the RAF sea rescue helicopter from Suffolk all joined in the extensive search which began yesterday (Monday) afternoon.

Alan Butler of the Southend RNLI said: "A male swimmer was reported in difficulties in the vicinity of Thorpe Bay Yacht Club slipway. He was seen off the end of the slipway, struggling and trying to cling to a boat. Then he disappeared.

"Somebody on the beach saw the problem and raised the alarm and everything was done as quickly as possible."

The alarm was raised around 4pm by a young woman who had seen the man swim out to a boat, climb on and then jump off again before he disappeared among a group of moored boats.

The Southend RNLI lifeboats launched around 4.15pm and the search concluded shortly after 6pm when the swimmer was found.

Clive Welch, Thames Coastguard watch manager, said: "At 6.15pm the rescue helicopter recovered the swimmer from the shoreline close to where he was last sighted.

"The area where the man was found had been criss-crossed many times by the search units and it is believed that the swimmer only became visible as the tide receded.

"All of the staff at Thames Coastguard and at Southend would like to express their deepest sympathies to the family of the man."

A Coastgaurd spokesman today warned swimmers to beware of strong tides and currents in the Thames Estuary.

He added: "They can be very strong, particularly near the moorings. Swimmers should take care and one of the golden rules is to make sure they do not swim on a full stomach."

Two other swimmers died yesterday as they tried to cool off. Teenager John Rudderham died in Yorkshire after getting into difficulty at an outdoor swimming pool while Andrew Russell, from Goole, East Yorkshire died after swimming in an 8ft deep pond.

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