Coastguard were called to help a swimmer in difficulty off Felixstowe

A SWIMMER in the sea off Felixstowe was helped ashore by the coastguard after getting into difficulties.

At 10.23am yesterday Thames Coastguard were alerted by a 999 call from a member of the public reporting the swimmer had got into difficulty.

Felixstowe Coastguard, Ipswich Coastguard sector manager, Harwich RNLI inshore lifeboat and the Essex Marine Police launch QL07 were tasked to the incident.

First on the scene was the Coastguard sector manager who managed to throw a rescue sling bag to the casualty - a 69-year-old man.

A spokesman for the Coastguard said: “Despite a large swell on the beach from recent easterly gales, the casualty was then able to make the shore helped by the sector manager.”

The swimmer was then checked out by the ambulance service but no medical treatment was required.