A DIVER has praised the kayak instructor who paddled to his rescue after being swept out to sea in strong currents.

Instructor Graham Beckram, known to his friends as 'Bertie', plucked diver Mark Wilding out of the water after he got into difficulty off Lulworth Cove.

Experienced diver Mr Wilding, who lives near Bath, was diving with two friends when they became separated in strong currents. The 43-year-old was dragged out to sea by the current and was unable to make his way back to shore. Mr Wilding said: "I was trying as hard as I could but I wasn't going anywhere. I was treading water and there was no way I could make any headway."

Mr Wilding was in the water for two hours and, while he wasn't panicking, he was beginning to tire from battling against the current.

He said that he knew he would soon have to get his dive buddies to contact the emergency services to come and rescue him. Fortunately Mr Beckram came by with a group from Weymouth-based Jurassic Coast Kayak Tours and paddled over to help the struggling diver.

Mr Wilding said: "When the tour came by I signalled them and at first they were worried there might be other divers in the area. He originally tried towing me in.

"The boat wasn't going anywhere so he took my dive kit off and stuck it on the front of my boat and I dragged myself on to the back and he paddled into shore.

"I was very grateful to him, he didn't panic which then kept everyone calm and I was impressed with how he kept the kayak steady with me on the back and my kit on the front because it must have been tough to paddle."