Final words of hero dad who died trying to save stranger from drowning in Camber Sands
His 17-year-old son, who also tried to help before getting into trouble, woke from a coma to hear his dad had died
A BRAVE dad died after trying to save a stranger who got into difficulties in Camber Sands, an inquest heard.
Mohit Dupar, 36, and his son Ankush, 17, rushed to the aid of Brazilian teenager Gustavo Silva Da Cruz after he was swept out to sea.
The 19-year-old was seen in trouble about 50 metres out and was unable to swim back to shore in strong winds.
Mohit called out "somebody needs my help, they are drowning" to his son before heroically running into the sea.
Son Ankush followed him in but the pair soon got into difficulties themselves and had to be pulled from the water by the RNLI.
CPR was administered in front of horrified bystanders on the packed beach and it took 80 minutes to revive Mohit on July 24.
He was flown to William Harvey Hospital, but died four days later having suffered irreversible brain damage and cardiac arrest.
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Seven men died after going swimming at Camber Sands beach in East Sussex this summer, including Gustavo.
The pre-inquest review for five of the men, Kenugen Saththiyanathan, 18, known as Ken, and his brother Kobikanthan Saththiyanathan, 22, known as Kobi, their friends Nitharsan Ravi, 22, Inthushan Sriskantharasa, 23, and Gurushanth Srithavarajah, 27, will take place soon.
Today's hearing at Hastings Coroners Court heard that Gustavo, who was visiting family in Croydon, south London, was up to ten metres in front of his friend who decided to turn back and head towards the shore.
The 14-year-old pal heard him say, "I can't breathe", before turning round to see him trying to keep his head above the water.
Emergency teams were scrambled and during the search, Mohit was found along with his 17-year-old son Ankush.
A statement from heartbroken Ankush, who awoke from a three-week coma to discover his father had died following the tragedy, said: "My dad was going far swimming and I followed him.
"I didn't know he was going to save someone. When I saw him go too far I called to him why are you going so far. He replied someone needs help I am going to help him.
"In a few seconds water levels came up and tides pushed me and I didn't have any control of my body. Next I woke up I was in hospital."
He said he thought the beach should be closed in the wake of the summertime tragedies, adding: "Why do you make that beach open if someone is calling for help and no lifeguard come to help?
"Then I hear more five people died on that beach. Why is that beach open, it should be closed down.
"My dad was everything to me on this earth, no he has left me and even my step mother has left me in this country."
Robert Cass, of Rother District Council, believed the incoming tide meant the men became stranded and unable to get off a sandbar on which they were standing.
He said there needed to be a strong drive towards educating people about the dangers of the sea, adding there was a changing demographic of visitors to Camber.
East Sussex coroner Alan Craze called for Baywatch-style lifeguard towers on Camber Sands after this summer's tragedies.
Mr Craze told an inquest: “I need to look at the question of Baywatch towers to see if they give an advantage of height.”
“I will also make inquiries into the number of lifeguards.”
The hearing was adjourned.
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