A MAN was saved from potentially drowning after getting into difficulty in the sea near a popular tourist attraction. 

Emergency services were deployed to Clacton Pier at about 11am on Wednesday after concerning reports of a person struggling in the water.

Thankfully, volunteer lifeboat crew members were able to use their D Class ILB inshore lifeboat, Damar’s Pride, to quickly locate the man.

A spokesman for the RNLI said: "The crew headed out into partially cloudy but smooth sea conditions to the last reported location. The crew were able to locate the casualty quickly.

"The crew immediately recovered them aboard the lifeboat, carried out basic checks and tried to keep them warm whilst proceeding back to the lifeboat station."

After being taken to shore, the man was left in the care of paramedics.

A spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: "We were called just before 11.15am with reports of a medical emergency on Clacton Pier.

"One patient, an adult male, was transported to Colchester Hospital for further care."

Essex Police and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency were also called to the scene.