A LIFEGUARD swam 80 metres to stop a rubber dinghy containing two young boys being swept out to sea.

The dramatic rescue has prompted fresh warnings about the dangers of people using inflatables along the region's coastline.

Young lifeguard Andy Catterson spotted the 12-year-old boys frantically shouting and waving for help as their dinghy headed out to sea off Saltburn, east Cleveland.

The 20-year-old, from Ormesby, Middlesbrough, swam out to the stricken youngsters after first ensuring the coastguard was alerted.

He said: "I was just patrolling the beach in the patrol zone when I saw a couple of lads being swept out to sea.

"They started shouting for help. I contacted my co-worker by radio and asked her to contact the coastguard.

"I got hold of the dinghy and managed to drag it back into the shore by a rope. I made the two lads stay in the boat. It was quite hard work because there was an off-shore wind.

"This is the first time I've done anything like this. This is what I'm trained for. It's just part of the job."

Paul Castle, foreshore manager for Redcar and Cleveland council, hailed Andy a hero - saying that if it had not been for his quick actions, the incident could have had tragic consequences. He said: "The wind was pushing them further out to sea. Andy plunged into the water and swam out to them and pulled them back in. We are very proud of him."

The incident was on Bank Holiday Monday, the first weekend of the summer season when council lifeguards are on duty.

Mr Castle said: "The boys were very lucky indeed that they were spotted. We cannot emphasise enough the warning that inflatable dinghies and light airbeds are not made for the open sea."

Dave Cammish, of Redcar Lifeboat Station said: "This incident serves to remind the public of the need to take great care when using inflatables."

l In a separate incident, Redcar lifeboat was called to assist three adults and one child on board a speedboat one and a half miles east of Redcar afterit reported engine failure. The speedboat and its crew, thought to be local, were towed safely to the beach