A MAN was said to have had a 'very lucky' escape after being swept out to sea in darkness.

He was eventually plucked to safety by a lifeboat crew after spending about half an hour in the water a few hundred metres off Chesil Cove, Portland. His cries for help could be heard on the shore and witnesses described a tense scene before he was saved.

Onlookers said he entered the sea from Chesil Beach near Quiddles Café last night but soon got into difficulty, which prompted two people to go into the sea to try and rescue him. Later, people also launched a rowing boat as part of a frantic rescue attempt before a lifeboat arrived.

Coastguard teams from Portland Bill and Wyke Regis along with police officers, paramedics, a coastguard rescue helicopter and Weymouth Lifeboat were scrambled at 9.30pm on Friday.

A person on the scene said: "There were a lot of people on the shoreline and there was grave concern for the man who went in the sea. It was pitch black and no-one could see him. I believe his friend went in after him and then someone who was an experienced swimmer also went in to try and help.

"They managed to get out, or were helped out, but the man was still missing. He had been pulled by the tide and was about 2-300 metres out, drifting offshore towards the Wyke end of Chesil Beach.

"He was eventually pulled out by the lifeboat. I would say he had a very lucky escape indeed."

A spokesman for Portland Bill Coastguard said: "We were tasked by Solent Coastguard along with Wyke Coastguard, Weymouth inshore lifeboat, the Coastguard Helicopter Rescue 175 and South Western Ambulance Service to assist Weymouth & Portland Police with multiple reports of a person in difficulty, in the water at Chesil Cove.

"On scene search teams were deployed along the beach to conduct a shoreline search. Shouting could then be heard from the shoreline. Weymouth inshore lifeboat was able to quickly locate the casualty's position in the darkness and recover them from the water then return them back to the beach to be taken into the care of police and ambulance Crew. Additional personnel that had also entered the water to assist the casualty prior to our arrival were also checked over by paramedics. With all persons safely away from the water's edge, all services were then stood down and returned to their stations."