A MAN who drowned at Sandbanks beach last Saturday has been named as father-of-two Jayarajah Katheeswaran.

Mr Katheeswaran, of Shenley Road, in Boreham Wood, Hertfordshire, was pulled from the water after being seen in difficulty by his friends on the shore.

The 37-year-old Sri Lankan-born man was visiting the popular tourist site with a group from Harrow as part of their annual excursion.

Another member of the coach trip, Ajan Ariyaratnam, told the Echo the group had arrived at 1.30pm.

The Islamic and Cultural Society of Harrow visit the beach every year.

He said Mr Katheeswaran had two children - one aged five and the other 43-days-old.

“My cousin and his children went into the water and they came back immediately because of the high waves.

“When he came back he warned everyone not to go there because of these high waves,” he said.

“A few minutes later three of our friends went in to the water. One of them went further. Suddenly my sister saw that he was actually drowning, so she shouted ‘help, help’.

“Every one of us ran towards the sea to try to help him and two of the friends ran to get the lifeguard.

“When the lifeguard pulled him out of the sea he gave him first aid and CPR but could not help.

“So they called emergency services for further help. There was still no sign of breathing.

“So they called an air ambulance to try to save his life.

“Unfortunately he was dead at the scene. It was so horrible - a tragic accident.”

An inquest was opened into Mr Katheeswaran’s death by Bournemouth assistant coroner Richard Middleton.

Coroner officer Allan Young told the hearing he had identified Mr Katheeswaran from his passport photo.

Pathologist Dr Simon Rasbridge carried out the post mortem confirming the man died as a result of drowning, the inquest heard.

Mr Young said by all accounts “the sea was extremely rough".

He added: "Lifeguards were alerted that a man was swimming out of the markers and was overcome by the current."

The inquest has been adjourned until November 26.