A swimmer who faced drowning after getting into difficulties in the sea would like to thank the man who pulled him to safety.

Hungarian resident Dr Itil Asmon was swimming off the coast in Hove when he lost almost all movement in his body.

The 65-year-old's father died in similar circumstances and Dr Asmon feared he might not make it back to shore.

Luckily, the doctor of economics was wearing both a wetsuit and a life jacket and managed to remain calm until he could alert help.

However, he began to lose consciousness and could have drowned in the waves despite the aid of a life jacket.

Just as he started to pass out, a man rushed into the sea and rescued him. Dr Asmon now wants to thank his saviour personally.

Speaking from his home in Budapest, Dr Asmon said: "I had been staying in Hove for a couple of weeks and every day I went swimming out to a buoy and back.

"On September 11, after swimming for about 20 minutes, I felt a weakness that I was totally unaccustomed to. I felt I could hardly move.

"I did not panic and inflated the life jacket and tried swimming slowly to shore.

"When I was about 100 yards from shore I started waving and shouting for help and a man aged about 30 came into the water and pulled me out.

"At this point I must have blacked out. I remember being dragged to the shore and then I remember being pulled into an ambulance."

Dr Asmon spent two nights at the Royal Sussex County Hospital and said he had nothing but praise for the treatment he received from the NHS.

He said: "The doctors verified that my heart was very strong. It is a mystery what happened."

Dr Asmon said he was a strong swimmer but had gone prepared for his effort to reach the buoy by donning a wetsuit and life jacket.

He said: "My father had a heart attack when he was swimming many years ago and drowned in the sea.

"Since then, I have been worried I might require a life jacket so I always wear one when I go swimming."

Dr Asmon could owe his life to the jacket he was wearing but he also wants to thank the man who helped him to shore.

Anyone who knows who the rescuer was should contact Dr Asmon on itilasmon@hotmail.com