A father has thanked the people who risked their lives to save him after he almost drowned during a Christmas day dip.

Like many other foolhardy bathers, Andy Mills, 47, had psyched himself up for the annual festive swim on Brighton beach.

But nothing could have prepared him for his brush with death when he was knocked about during the worst sea conditions in the history of the event.

The confident swimmer was overpowered by 8ft waves and dragged under as his family looked on in horror.

Mr Mills, of Southdown Road, Portslade, said he feared he would die at one point as he failed to find the strength to overcome the tide.

He was carried from the water by five onlookers, some of whom were from Brighton Swimming Club, which had earlier abandoned attempts to swim because of the rough seas.

He said: "Thank God there were people there to pull me out.

"I want to thank these people for helping me. I felt when they were rescuing me that they were putting their own lives at risk by getting in the water."

The father of four, who works as a member of cabin crew for British Airways, decided to take part in the dip after his eldest son, Oliver, made the suggestion.

He said: "It sounded like a good idea but when we got down to the beach it didn't look like such a good idea.

"It wasn't until we got into the sea that we realised how powerful the waves were."

As Mr Mills and scores of others waded into the choppy waters, he was knocked over by a giant wave.

He said: "All I remember is turning over and over and coming up trying to gulp for air. At one point I stood up and tried to move towards the people holding out their hands on the beach.

"They were shouting out to me, telling me to swim.

"I thought there was no way I could swim against that current because I was being dragged back.

"Then I thought, that's it.

"I thought I would die out there, tumbling over in the water. It was a frightening experience.

"It's weird because it gets really quiet under the sea.

"At one point I was thrown down and my head hit the bottom of the sea. I came up with a lump on my head and it's now a black eye."

Mr Mills was lifted out of the water by the onlookers and taken to the beach where he was wrapped in towels.

He said: "I had to crawl up the beach. I was too weak to stand up.

"I felt sick but so relieved."

Brighton Swimming Club had cancelled their annual swim because of the conditions but Mr Mills said he did not know this before going into the water.

He said: "I'm feeling sheepish now and I feel sorry for the guys who hauled me out of the water."

jessica.bauldry@theargus.co.uk