A MAN told an inquest yesterday how he tried to save a student from drowning.

Swansea Coroner's Court heard that Peter Gannon, from Newcastle, drowned after getting into difficulties while swimming at Three Cliffs beach on the Gower, near Swansea.

Holidaymaker Simon Levison, 33, swam out to try to save Mr Gannon, but they became caught in a strong current.

For 30 minutes he tried to tow Mr Gannon, a 21-year-old student at Swansea University, to the shore, but they were "just going round in circles".

He said Mr Gannon's last words were "I'm drowning".

He then asked Mr Gannon to forgive him before striking out for the rocks alone. A few minutes later, he saw Mr Gannon's body wash up on to the beach, where the emergency services had arrived.

Mr Gannon was at the beach on May 14 with two fellow students. They had been sunbathing before Mr Gannon and Lynette Owens decided to go for a swim.

Ms Owens described how they were dragged out from the shore. Once on the beach, she saw Mr Gannon waving his arms, about 30 metres out.

She ran to ask other people to help.

Mr Gannon was airlifted to Morriston Hospital, in Swansea, but died the next day.

Coroner Philip Rogers said post-mortem examination results were consistent with drowning and he recorded a verdict of death by misadventure