THE seven-year-old boy plucked from the sea in a dramatic rescue bid off the Dorset coast died in his mother's arms in hospital.

Little Jack Shelton lost his fight for life in the paediatric unit of the Bristol Children's Hospital.

His parents Steve and Debra, both 37, had been keeping a bedside vigil.

Jack, of Brimscombe, near Stroud in Gloucestershire, was dragged into the sea by the strong current after being hit by a wave on the beach by Freshwater Caravan Park, near Burton Bradstock, last week.

He was rescued by a lifeguard and airlifted to hospital but it is understood he never regained consciousness after being in the sea.

Jack was initially treated at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester but was later transferred to Southampton General Hospital. Doctors then moved Jack to Bristol so he could be near the family home.

The identity of the man who drowned trying to save Jack was revealed by police today.

He was 35-year-old dad Mike Beatwell of Paulton-Le-Fylde, near Blackpool, a hospital operating department practitioner who had been enjoying a holiday with his family at Freshwater.

His widow Sue, 34, said she did not realise her rugby-loving husband had gone into the water to save Jack until his body had been winched aboard a helicopter.

She said: "When we got to the beach there was a crowd watching what was happening.

"I couldn't see Mike anywhere so we went back to the tent to look for him.

"He wasn't there so we went back to the beach. The coastguard had arrived and there was quite a large crowd so I assumed Mike was among them.

"We saw them winching somebody out of the sea but had no idea that it was him. It was only later when the crowd had broken up and we still could not find him that it dawned on me he might have gone in the water."

Police later confirmed her worst fears.

Mrs Beatwell said: "It was just awful. It still feels like it is happening to someone else.

"Mike loved his family and would do anything for them.

"He was very caring and sometimes very deep and emotional. He was always there for me and made me laugh.

"I just can't believe it."