THE man who rescued a 6-year-old girl who suffered a fit in the sea last weekend has said he did what anybody would have done.

Karl Murphy, of Villiers Street, Hafod, was walking along the water's edge on Swansea beach with his son Scott, 13, when he saw the young girl's mother trying to drag her out of the sea.

He rushed over to help and did his best to keep her alive while they waited for paramedics to arrive.

But the 40-year-old father of one, who is the director of his own business — LG Murphy Demolition — said what he did was not heroic.

He said: "I was quite shocked when I saw a thank you in the paper. It was nice for the woman to thank me, and I am glad the girl is well.

"It was the first time I have had to rescue somebody and put my first aid training into use.

"I don't think it was heroic as such, I just acted like I hope most other people would have if they saw somebody in distress. Something just kicked in when I saw the girl in the water."

Mum Carly Peploe, 27, contacted the Post to say a public thank you to the man who had helped save her daughter Isabelle's life.

She said at the time she did not get the man's name, but described his actions as amazing.

Mr Murphy said he and his son were originally going to the fair in Singleton Park on Saturday, but had decided at the last minute to have a walk along the beach.

He added: "It's lucky we changed our minds, as there could have been different circumstances.

"The sea was quite far out and there were not many people nearby.

"As soon as I saw the girl was in distress, I ran across the beach. I don't think my son even knew what was happening, he just saw me running off. I picked the girl up and tried to get her onto dry land and put her in the recovery position.

"There were a couple of foreigners who rang the ambulance, and I had to explain we were near the Patti Pavilion area as they couldn't speak much English.

"It was quite a hairy moment as the tide was coming in and we had to keep moving her up the beach. We were also sinking in the grey sand."

Isabelle, of Derwydd Avenue, Gwaun-cae-Gurwen, spent the night at Morriston Hospital after being treated by paramedics.

Miss Peploe said: "I really don't know what I would have done without his help."

laura.davies@ swwmedia.co.uk