Windsurfer Steve Kellner leapt into action when a man sparked a sea rescue.

A member of the public contacted the police after spotting the fully clothed man wading into the freezing water off Hove seafront at 4pm yesterday.

As crowds gathered near the King Alfred leisure centre, Steve grabbed a lifebelt and sailed to the man.He held him above the water and kept him

talking until a Brighton Lifeboat crew, who were guided by the coastguard and a police helicopter hovering overhead, arrived.

The lifeboat sailed alongside the man and crew members pulled him out of the water and took him to the beach where he was treated by waiting paramedics.

Crew member Dave Adamson said: "Hypothermia was taking hold. He was still conscious, but very cold, confused and not fully coherent. "

Dave was full of praise for the windsurfer. He said: "He did a very good job. He held him above the water and kept him going until we arrived."

The man was taken to the Royal Sussex County Hospital.

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