Two teenage boys who were swept out to sea told of their dramatic rescue ordeal.

The pair, both aged 14, are lucky to be alive after being overcome by the current and dragged out.

They were plucked from the sea by the Lyme Regis Lifeboat about 200 metres offshore.

One of the boys, Archie Woollacott, who lives near Marshwood in west Dorset, had jumped off the harbour wall into the River Axe and began to be swept towards the sea. His friend, Bozhidrar Bobev – Bo – jumped in to help, but both were taken by the current.

Lyme Regis Lifeboat was alerted at 6.20pm on Friday and was on scene at Axmouth, Devon in 10 minutes.

Coastguards directed them to the boys, and the crew managed to locate them and haul them out of the water.

They were then winched onto a coastguard helicopter and eventually taken to hospital in Exeter for a check-up.

They have since been released and allowed home.

Archie said: "Bo is a really good guy for helping me. I was freezing, and my mum has now told me I can't go out for ten years! I was really pleased to see the lifeboat crew."

Archie's mother Emily Legg said: "We are so grateful to the lifeboat crew and, of course to Bo, who will be on our Christmas list for ever."

Bo's mother, Daniela Georgieva said: "Bo was very tired after his ordeal but he is very well now. I am very grateful for the professional way in which they were rescued."

Lifeboat helm Murray Saunders said: "The Beer coastguards were a tremendous help in getting us on scene so quickly. The boys would have been in serious trouble if there had been a delay in finding them."

A spokesman for Beer Coastguard said: "One of our rescue officers was first on scene and directed Lyme lifeboat to the two casualties and they quickly recovered them into the lifeboat; both were cold and one had swallowed seawater.

"It was decided to lower the paramedic from the helicopter onto the lifeboat to check them over.

"As it was too rough on the shore for the lifeboat to land and due to their condition it was decided to winch both into the helicopter and land on the beach, where (medics) could check them out.

"It was decided both needed to be taken to A&E via land ambulance.

"We wish them a quick recovery."