A man who narrowly avoided dying after getting trapped in the rocks at the seaside had saved a child, reports say.
He was stuck in water up to his neck for several hours near Sheringham's east promenade, in Norfolk, yesterday.
The man, in his 20s, was caught in the rocks after rescuing a tot from the water, the BBC reports.
The emergency services cut the individual free in 'an extremely frightening' rescue operation.
Stuart Facey, who was walking his dog when the Coastguard arrived, said: "I saw someone obviously stuck in the rocks, it was high tide and water was coming over him so it was a very scary situation."
"I've seen people climb into the cavities in the rocks and the problem is that even if you are able to move a rock to free someone who is stuck, another can fall into its place; it can be a life or death situation."
But HM Coastguard co-ordinated teams from Cromer and Sheringham coastguard and Sheringham RNLI at around 5.30pm when the alarm was raised. They gave the man breathing apparatus for the recovery mission and eventually freed him by 9.30pm.
BBC reports the man had saved a toddler from the water before he became stuck.
Dennis Morgan, 62, was enjoying a stroll with wife Debbie, 57, when the drama unfolded.
The grandfather-to-nine, who is camping in the area this week, told Daily Mirror: "I am relieved to see he was freed.
"Some children, three or four of them, raised the alarm.
They came over and shouted 'Get the lifeguard, get the lifeguard'. They were fantastic really given the situation to have that presence of mind to know what to do.
"I think they were the man's kids. They were young, probably between eight and ten."
The holidaymaker, of Andover, Hampshire, added: "It was a huge operation. The equipment was very heavy stuff. They were very heavy rocks, put in probably as sea defences.
"There must be have been ten vehicles in total. I am very prod though of the professionals. They were fantastic. If it wasn't for their quick resolve, the guy could have been dead. "I am not sure what he was doing on the rocks in the first place."
Sam Stockdale, senior maritime operations officer from HM Coastguard, said: "It’s such good news that this man has been freed. We often talk about how training matters between the various frontline responders and today has shown just why it does.
"Everyone worked together on scene to look after the man and also to free him as soon as was practically possible."
Zach Pedley, from HM Coastguard, previously said: "This is a very frightening experience for this man.
"Thankfully someone knew to call 999 and ask for the Coastguard which meant we could send the right response immediately. Everyone is working together at the scene to keep him calm and safe."
HM Coastguard previously said in a post on Facebook : “Although the water has come in a fair way and the man is currently up to his neck, the emergency responders are on scene helping to reassure him and holding his head about the water. He has also been given breathing apparatus and a lifejacket.
“Fire officers are currently working to cut through the rock to rescue the man.”
Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service tweeted: "We are currently dealing with a protracted incident on East Promenade in Sheringham with our partner agencies. Please avoid the area to allow our crews to work. Thank you."
Authorities warned people in the area not to film or take photos of the rescue operation.
Sheringham is a small town near Norwich and is popular with tourists.
It doesn't have a harbour but the RNLI lifeboat station opened in the 1830s.
Urgent flood warnings have been issued across the UK with locals warned to take "immediate action".
