A hero lifeguard has described how he leapt into action to save a young boy from drowning.

Darrell Hatahet said instinct kicked in when he dived in to rescue the nine-year-old, after he got into difficulty in the swimming pool at Summerfields Holiday Park in Scratby on Sunday.

The modest 20-year-old said he was just 'doing his job' when he came to the boy's aid. But he admitted the dramatic rescue did leave him a little shaken, as it was the first time he had pulled someone from the water in four seasons of being a lifeguard.

Mr Hatahet, from Great Yarmouth, said: 'I saw him going down so I jumped in, recovered him from the bottom and got him to the side. He was conscious but his breathing was irregular.'

Together with fellow members of staff Mr Hatahet cleared the youngster's airways and then, when he was able to, sat him down and kept him warm until paramedics arrived.

The boy and his young brother, who had also ingested water but did not need rescuing, were taken to hospital to be checked over and returned to the park that night.

Mr Hatahet was back on duty on Monday morning and said his first priority was to find out if the youngster was OK.

'They were all fine,' he added. 'I was a bit shaken but everything turned out all right.'