WEAK swimmers are being warned by lifeguards not to stray too far out into the sea after 12 people were rescued from the water in one day.

RNLI lifeguards patrolling Bournemouth beach say three of those rescued on Sunday were in danger of drowning and warn that such swimmers should not stray beyond waist-depth water.

They rescued two men who had been drinking and got into difficulties when they jumped from Bournemouth Pier into deep water.

Four male swimmers struggling out of their depth were picked up by a Bournemouth Lifeguards Corps patrol boat and transported back to shore.

Another two swimmers were rescued within minutes of each other after separately getting into difficulties about 10 metres off shore.

And two men in their mid-30s who had been “messing around” on a bodyboard were rescued after they let go of it and started to go under the water.

Both were later taken to hospital.

Lifeguards extended their usual hours until 7pm.

RNLI lifeguard supervisor Ed Stevens said: “If the RNLI lifeguards hadn’t been there for the last hour the three males they saved were in danger of drowning without their help.”