DRAMA unfolded in Swanage after a man who forgot his kill cord and life jacket was flipped from his motorboat.

'Always remember your safety procedures'- that's the message from pedalo and deck chair hire owner Carlo Wiggins who got in to difficulty when he dashed to rescue a beach-goer.

His Dorey motorboat hit a couple of waves and flipped him out.

Carlo swam away from the boat, which kept chugging round in a circle.

He was helped from the water by his father, Barry Wiggins who arrived on a pedalo, and his friend Justin Streams came over on a jetski and turned the boat's throttle off.

Carlo is now urging anyone using a boat to remember that no matter the emergency, they must remember to attach their kill cord and wear a lifejacket.

A kill cord is designed to kill the engine in the event of the driver going overboard and is normally attached to the leg or to a buoyancy aid.

Fortunately, Carlo was away from the beach, with no boats or swimmers nearby, when the incident happened. He said the craft moved in slow, tight circles, not like a speedboat, and so he was able to swim away and wait until help arrived.

Carlo said he felt 'terrible' about the incident, as he has worked on the beach for 30 years and has an 'immaculate' safety record- including saving two boys who fell from their rubber dinghy last year.

But he said he rushed to help a dinghy in distress on Saturday afternoon and a series of events lead to the 'unfortunate' incident.

He said: “I've learnt a valuable lesson.

“Whatever the emergency situation you have always got to make time for your safety procedures or you could actually make the situation worse.

“I'll never ever not wear that kill cord again - even if I'm pottering out somewhere.”

Coastguards said the incident highlighted the importance of wearing buoyancy aids and a kill cord.

Portland Coastguard Watch manager Cindy Rodaway said: “We are very relieved that everyone is safe and well and that there are no injuries resulting from this incident.

“All owners and drivers of open powerboats, personal watercraft and RIBs should ensure that if their boat is fitted with a kill switch and kill cord, it is correctly used.”