A SWANSEA police sergeant is being hailed as a hero after helping to rescue a woman from the sea.

Sergeant Glenn Thomas was the first to arrive at the scene after CCTV cameras caught images of a 48-year-old woman walking into the sea close to the Southend car park, near Mumbles Pier.

The drama unfolded at 4.20am this morning, leading emergency services to be called.

And it was the Mumbles based sergeant who saw the woman in the sea lying on her back.

He put his own safety aside by diving into the water.

As he swam near to the woman she started to swim away from him, despite his continued attempts to help her.

But he eventually managed to reach her along with the Mumbles Lifeboat, the coastguard, and a local a fishing boat, and helped to persuade her to return to shore.

Temporary Chief Inspector Steve Jones said: "This was a heroic effort from Sergeant Thomas who with disregard for his own safety went into the sea to rescue this lady.

"There is no doubt that if it had not been for his prompt action the consequences could have been far more serious."

The woman was later examined by paramedics and was unhurt following the incident.