LIFESAVING staff at a swimming pool have been praised for helping to save a drowning man’s life.

The 71-year-old father suffered a heart attack while swimming with his wife and daughter at Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles, last Thursday, at about 3.40pm.

He grabbed for the edge and sank to the bottom of the pool.

The danger was spotted and 18-year-old lifeguard Millie Donovan, who has worked at the site for a year, raised the alarm.

She called for help and hit the ‘drown alarm’.

Within seconds husband and wife Michelle and Shaun Williams, along with Michael Greenfield – who are all also lifeguards – were at the poolside.

The man’s daughter realised her father was in trouble and swam over, grabbing him and pulling him to the surface.

Michelle, Shaun, Millie and Michael all rushed to the pensioner’s aid and hauled him from the water.

Shaun began to carry out CPR, while Michelle fetched a defibrillator and towels.

“We attached the defibrillator and that advised us not to shock the casualty,” said Michelle.

“A First Responder was with us within around five minutes and the air ambulance within around 15 to 20 minutes.

“Once the emergency services had completed their checks, they took the man off to hospital.”

His daughter called staff at centre on Tuesday evening to say her father had been released from hospital and was doing well.

She thanked all those involved for their efforts.

Martin Webb, manager at Dovercourt Bay Lifestyles, said: “Everyone produced a very professional response to what was a very serious and worrying situation.

“No one panicked, they all followed the correct procedures and I am sure that they all played their part in saving the man’s life.

“His daughter did a great job in getting to him and bringing him to the surface and then our team took over.”

It is believed that the family, who live in Wales, were on holiday.