This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/hampshire/6933091.stm

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Man drowns saving granddaughter Man drowns saving granddaughter
(about 2 hours later)
A man has drowned after saving his 18-month-old granddaughter when the pair got into difficulty playing ball at the seaside. A man has drowned after saving his 18-month-old granddaughter during a family outing to the seaside.
The 43-year-old grandfather, from Southampton, was with his family at Lepe Beach at Calshot, Hampshire. The 43-year-old grandfather, from Southampton, was playing ball in the water with his family at Lepe Beach near Calshot, Hampshire, on Sunday.
He held his granddaughter, who was not hurt, above his head as his daughter and a friend rescued her. When the tide came in rapidly he held the baby, who was not hurt, above his head until she was taken to safety.
But when rescuers got the man to the shore he was unconscious after spending too long under the water, police said.But when rescuers got the man to the shore he was unconscious after spending too long under the water, police said.
A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary, who described the man's death as "a tragic accident", said he was pronounced dead on arrival at Southampton General Hospital after being flown there by helicopter. Rising tide
The man was playing with his granddaughter, 11-year-old daughter and a friend in waist-height water off a sandbar.
When the ball was thrown out into the water, the man passed the baby to his daughter and went to fetch the ball.
The daughter gave the baby back to her father when she became out of her depth as the tide came in quickly.
The man also got into difficulty and lifted the baby above his head, out of the water, as he attempted to get back to shore.
Other family members assisted, carrying the baby to safety.
'Tragic accident'
The man had been under the water for some time and was unconscious when he was brought to safety by members of the public.
The emergency services were called to the beach at 1530 BST.
Both the man and the baby were taken to Southampton General Hospital by coastguard helicopter.
Despite resuscitation attempts the man was pronounced dead at the hospital, but the baby was not harmed.
A spokesman for Hampshire Constabulary described the man's death as "a tragic accident".