BRAVE holidaymaker Bill Shemwell has been praised by a senior police officer for saving the life of a middle-aged man.

Mr Shemwell, aged 61, dragged the semi-conscious man from the sea at Great Yarmouth after seeing him lying in the water.

He and his wife Kathleen, from Knowle Road, Biddulph looked after the man until the police arrived.

However half an hour later they saw the same man heading for the sea, and called the police from an emergency phone.

Three officers using torches found the man, and the Shemwells received a thankyou letter from Supt David Cushing of Norfolk Constabulary.

He said Mr Shemwell's prompt action had prevented a possible tragedy, and thanked him for his public spiritedness.

"We were walking along the promenade at 9.30pm when we saw a man lying in the water fully clothed," said Mr Shemwell.

"He appeared to be drugged or drunk, and I went into the water and dragged him out. The police said they would sort him out, but half an hour later as we were walking back we saw the man walking out to sea again.

"We telephoned for the police, and three officers found him using lights.

"I didn't think twice about pulling him out, I just did it instinctively, and it was nice to receive a thankyou letter."

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