A MAN was lucky to escape uninjured after being flipped from his motorboat as he dashed to rescue a child being swept out to sea.

Swanage pedalo and deck chair hire owner Carlo Wiggins was on his way to help a dinghy being blown out to sea off Swanage Beach on Saturday afternoon, when his Dorey motorboat hit a couple of waves and flipped him out.

He swam away from the boat, which kept chugging round in a circle.

He was helped from the water by his father Barry Wiggins, who arrived on a pedalo, and his friend Justin Streams came over on a jetski and turned the boat's throttle off.

Carlo is now urging anyone using a boat to remember that no matter the emergency they must remember to attach their kill cord and wear a lifejacket.

A kill cord is designed to kill the engine in the event of the driver going overboard and is normally attached to the leg or to a buoyancy aid.

Carlo said he was away from the beach, with no boats or swimmers near him, when he was flipped from the craft.

He said it moved in slow, tight circles, not like a speedboat, and so he was able to swim away and wait until help arrived. Carlo described the craft as being 'like a bath tub' with a motor on the back.

The dinghy in distress was brought safely back by another vessel.

Carlo said: “I've learnt a valuable lesson.

“Whatever the emergency situation you have always got to make time for your safety procedures or you could actually make the situation worse.”

He added: “I'll never ever not wear that kill cord again - even if I'm pottering out somewhere.”

Coastguards said the incident highlighted the importance of wearing buoyancy aids and a kill cord.

Portland Coastguard Watch Manager Cindy Rodaway said they received numerous 999 calls from worried onlookers.

She said: “We are very relieved that everyone is safe and well and that there are no injuries resulting from this incident.

“All owners and drivers of open powerboats, personal watercraft and RIBs should ensure that if their boat is fitted with a kill switch and kill cord, it is correctly used.”