FRIENDS have paid tribute to a "daring" man who died after he tried to rescue his girlfriend when she fell into the sea.

Martin Dawkins, of Silverdale Road, Petts Wood, was taking a walk on holiday with his partner near Selsby Bill, West Sussex, when she apparently slipped into the water.

The 37-year-old went in to try to help her but he got into difficulties and had to be pulled out of the water and airlifted to hospital.

He died at the Queen Alexandra Hospital, Portsmouth.

His partner was helped ashore by members of the public and was treated for minor cuts at St Richard's Hospital, Chichester.

Laura Farmer says she had become close friends with Mr Dawkins in the past three years and was shocked to hear the news.

Mr Dawkins was a keen motorcyclist and used to ride around the country with Ms Farmer's father and on an annual May Day ride to Hastings.

He also snowboarded and cycled and Ms Farmer, of Lapwing Close, Erith, says he was always looking for his next challenge.

"I was really shocked because he lived such a daring life.

"You cannot believe he could be taken away just going on holiday with his girlfriend.

"He liked fast things and was definitely a bit of a speed freak."

The 27-year-old mother-of-one added: "I will miss everything about him.

"He was a funny guy. I used to call him baldy' and he used to call me small bum', meaning the opposite."

The recruitment consultant added: "I think it was a brave thing to try to save his girlfriend and I do not think he thought anything would happen to him."

Mr Dawkins' next door neighbour Lisbeth Shepherd, 46, said: "He was a lovely boy.

"He was very brave to try to save his girlfriend. It's the kind of person Martin was.

"It is a terrible thing to have to happen to anybody."

She added: "He loved his music and his bike racing. He's got a bike and all the leathers and everything.

"He was a very hard working bloke and if he could he'd try and help anybody out. It is dreadful."

Her father Bert Martin, 77, said: "It is a shock. He was a very good neighbour.

"He used to cut my lawns for me."

Police are treating Mr Dawkins' death on July 29 as an accident.

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