A MAN has died after getting into difficulty at sea.

Emergency services were called to Portland Bill on Saturday afternoon.

HM Coastguard received multiple 999 calls at about 1.30pm reporting a person in difficulty in the water.

Two RNLI lifeboats from Weymouth, coastguard rescue teams from Portland Bill and Wyke, the coastguard search and rescue helicopter from Lee on Solent, South West Ambulance Service and a number of vessels in the area all attended.

After launching just after 1.30pm, following a report of an unconscious male swimmer in the water, lifeboat crew - who were faced with difficult circumstances of poor visibility and choppy sea conditions - located the man some 300m south west from Portland Bill. He was taken onboard at 2pm.

The volunteer crew immediately carried out CPR before transferring him to the all-weather lifeboat where CPR continued.

Due to the seriousness of the man’s condition, it was decided to transfer him directly to hospital by helicopter.

When coastguard rescue helicopter 175 arrived on scene, the man was transferred from the all-weather lifeboat into the helicopter.

According to Wyke Regis coastguard rescue team, the lack of visibility due to weather conditions prevented the coastguard helicopter from flying over the Ridgeway to their preferred choice of Dorchester.

The man was instead flown to Poole Hospital. Sadly, he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.

Mayor of Portland, Cllr Sandy West, was saddened to hear the news. She is urging people to be careful and to be aware of the dangers as more start visiting the island.

“It’s really sad and it must be devastating for the families,” she said.

“I don’t think people realise when they go swimming around Portland that it can be really treacherous. We’ve got lovely beaches here but people need to think before they swim in these places. Please be careful when you go swimming. The currents are really treacherous.

“We’re always saddened for families here when they lose someone like that, I can’t imagine what the families must go through. I do send my condolences.

“I wish people, anywhere on Portland, to be careful about where they are swimming and what they are doing. It must also be harrowing for the emergency services and mentally for them it must be devastating.

“Enjoy yourselves here but please be careful.”

Cllr West gave ‘huge respect’ to the emergency services, who she heard responding to the incident on Saturday.

She added: “For the last week or so there have been a lot of emergency services. I can see them bombing across Beach Road and hear them going up towards Fortuneswell.”