Brave but modest Ross Adams walked away from his life-saving action with little more than a shrug of his shoulders.

But his willingness to wade into the sea at high tide and swim out some 100m to rescue a collie he didn't know impressed the dog's owners, Pat and Dave Manning.

Mrs Manning said: "Ross just asked us if we would like him to go into the sea after Charlie.

"When we said 'yes', he took off his clothes and waded into the sea and started swimming straight away.

"He grabbed hold of Charlie's collar and waded back to the shore with him.

"I managed to ask the girl he was with what his name was and she told me before he went off. He didn't want to hang around."

The drama began about 11.30am on Sunday. Mr and Mrs Manning were walking along the Elmer coastline in front of the rock island sea defences.

It was the first time Charlie had been into the sea there during their lengthy holiday staying at the Riverside Caravan Centre in Shripney Road from their home in Sutton-in-Ashfield in Notts.

Six-year-old Charlie, owned by the couple for 4½ years, was happily walking along when he suddenly ran into the water.

He continued going into the sea until he got into difficulty.

"Somebody told us he was starting to panic," said Mrs Manning (54). "He was going absolutely nowhere but he was starting to tire. We were told the water is 30m deep there.

"He wasn't moving and it was frightening and there is no doubt Charlie would have died if something hadn't happened.

"I was in tears and my husband was in shock, though he would have gone in if he'd had to."

But Mr Adams, who she estimated was in his mid to late 20s, suddenly sprung into action while he was walking along the shore.

He ended his heroism by accepting a towel from a fisherman who lived nearby with which to dry off before he walked away.

Mrs Manning believes he must live locally and wanted his heroism to be recognised through the Observer.

Charlie has made a complete recovery from his ordeal. He has been taken to Elmer Beach before at low tide to have fun in the rock pools and will only be going back there again when the tide is out.



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