Man who died after rescuing child off Sussex beach named
A 32-year-old man who was swept to his death after rescuing a five-year-old girl from the sea off West Sussex has been named by police.
Plamen Petkov, of Westmoreland Drive, Sutton, and a woman went into the sea at West Wittering on Saturday to help the girl, who was caught by the tide.
The Bulgarian man managed to pass the child to the woman before he was carried away by the current.
He was recovered unconscious later and pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem examination held at St Richards Hospital, Chichester, on Tuesday found the cause of death to be drowning.
A spokesman for Sussex Police said: "It is clear that this was a tragic accident, and there is no further police investigation.
"There will be a coroner's inquest at a later date yet to be set."
The woman, who entered the water with Mr Petkov, was able to reunite the girl with her family.
The girl had been on the beach with her family who are from north-west London.