A COASTGUARD training exercise turned into a real rescue when one volunteer went into cardiac arrest last week.

The Southbourne team were carrying out water rescue training at Avon Beach in Christchurch at 9pm on Wednesday, September 19 when the drama unfolded.

One official, who was acting as a casualty and being taken to the shore on a 'floating line', suddenly fell unconscious.

Teammates quickly brought the officer to shore, but discovered he was not breathing and had no pulse. The volunteers began CPR and called for an ambulance.

The casualty's heart began beating after the crew used a defibrillator from the nearby Mudeford RNLI station.

Shortly afterwards, the coastguard helicopter landed nearby and the casualty was rushed to the Royal Bournemouth Hospital.

A spokesperson from the Coastguard team said: "The officer was suffering from an underlying health issue caused by blocked arteries to the heart.

"The officer has now had minor surgery to correct this and is recuperating at home."

If the casualty hadn't been with teammates, the medical episode "could have had a very different ending", the spokesperson said.