Three anglers rescued a young woman and her boyfriend who jumped off Worthing Pier into the sea for a dare.

At one point the woman, who had been larking around on the landing stage, looked as if she was going to drift under the structure. Mark Barnett, 32, climbed 15ft down a metal ladder, stood on a beam and grabbed hold of the woman until help arrived from two fellow fishermen.

All three rescuers, from Porstmouth, were taking part in an angling competition. The woman, wearing white track suit bottoms and a blue top, jumped off the east side of the pier, followed by her boyfriend, who dived in and hit his head on the seabed. Both are believed to have been drinking.

Mr Barnett was assisted by Ady Williams. The two, who were cut by barnacles on the wooden pier struts, managed to get the woman on to the pier decking, helped by Dennis Foster, 55.

The woman's boyfriend, bleeding heavily from a head wound, was helped up the ladder by the anglers. Motorcycle paramedic Chris Williams rode onto the pier to give first aid.

Mr Barnett said: "We were in the right place at the right time and we had to react quickly. It was pretty stupid to jump off the pier into the water. I heard the girl saying she was going to do it but I did not think she would."

The man and woman were taken to Worthing Hospital for treatment.

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