Man dies rescuing his girlfriend

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A man has died trying to rescue his girlfriend who had become stranded in water off the Sussex coast.

Coastguards said the 37-year-old slipped off rocks west of Selsey Bill on Sunday afternoon.

His body was recovered soon after his girlfriend had been helped ashore by rescuers and members of the public.

The man, who has not yet been named, was pronounced dead after being airlifted to the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Cosham, Hampshire.

Coastguard rescue teams, a helicopter and an RNLI inshore lifeboat were sent to the scene after the alarm was raised at 1320 BST.

A spokesman for the Maritime and Coastguard Agency said the woman was taken to St Richard's Hospital in Chichester for treatment.

"This is a tragic accident and our deepest sympathies go out to his family and friends," he added.