A CORONER has warned of the dangers of swimming in the sea after a father of two young children drowned off Sandbanks.

Jayarajah Katheeswaran, who was visiting Dorset with members of the Islamic and Cultural Society of Harrow, had gone into the water outside of two flags marking an area patrolled by lifeguards.

Members of the group had been repeatedly warned to stay within the red and yellow flags so they could be seen, an inquest heard.

Dorset coroner Rachael Griffin said Mr Katheeswaran, of Shenley Road, in Borehamwood, Hertfordshire, had been pulled from the water by RNLI lifeguards after his friends raised the alarm on August 20 last year.

A doctor who conducted a post-mortem concluded the cause of Mr Katheeswaran's death was drowning.

Samples of blood were taken for toxicological analysis. He had an alcohol level sufficient to have caused "mild intoxication", it was heard.

Lifeguard Sam Bailey said the water had been "choppy" on the day of the 37-year-old's death and members of the group had been warned to stay within the flags on a number of occasions.

However, Mr Katheeswaran was 200 metres west of the area being patrolled when he came into difficulties, it was said.

By the time lifeguards were able to reach him, he was unconscious. Resuscitation attempts were made but a doctor who had been aboard an air ambulance pronounced him dead when he was brought back to the beach.

Mr Katheeswaran, who was born in Sri Lanka, moved to the UK in 2002 and ran a photography and graphics studio in Elstree, Hertfordshire.

He had two children. At the time of his death, the oldest was five, and the youngest was just 43 days old.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, Mrs Griffin said: "I hope if anything good can come out of his death it is to warn others of the dangers of swimming in the sea and in circumstances when they don't take note of advice given by lifeguards.

"Lifeguards are there to ensure the safety of those who use the beach and waters.

"It's of vital importance that their advice is taken on board, because sadly, tragic events like Mr Katheeswaran's death can occur if that advice isn't followed."