A 16-year-old schoolgirl who almost drowned near Red Rock, Dawlish Warren on Sunday, while trying to rescue her dog that had been swept in to the sea – was rescued by a man who could not even swim.

Arwen Bird, who is studying at a local school for her A-levels, was walking her pet dog, Jess, along the sea wall at about 6pm on Sunday evening. She reached Red Rock, went to the top of it. By about 7pm the weather had taken a turn for the worse, so she decided that it was time to head home.

'I got down onto the beach as I could see that there was a bit of it that I could walk on instead of going on the sea wall,' she said.

'About half way along, a huge wave caught my dog and me. I managed to get to the steps, but Jess didn't. Looking out from where I was, I could see her swimming, trying to get back in, so I went to the bottom of the steps to try to grab her collar when she got closer. When I did get her collar it slipped off her neck and she was dragged out again leaving me holding it. The next thing I realised another wave came over me and swept me off my feet.

'I was not so much dragged out, but dragged along the sea wall in a zigzag pattern, getting bashed against it, causing me to bruise and cut my face.

'I started out thinking, "when I get out of this, how am I going to tell my parents that I've lost the dog," but then started thinking "I'm not going to get out of here!"

'I kept on trying to grab the sea wall and rocks, but there was nothing to hold onto. It was really frustrating. I could feel the sand and rocks underneath me, but could not get a grip because the sea was so strong. I then started to feel really weak.'

Luckily, Tom Ahearn, a member of the public, was walking back from the Warren about two minutes behind Miss Bird and saw what was happening.

'I looked out and saw she was lying face down in the water, which made me start to panic a bit. I took off my trousers, top and shoes and threw myself in.' he said. 'I was running on adrenaline in the water and just knew I had to get her out as quickly as I could.

'I managed to get to her and dragged her in to the steps where we both collapsed, before I called the coastguard on my mobile phone, that I had left on the sea wall.'

The amazing thing is however, is that Mr Ahearn is not able to swim.

Arwen's mother, Dawn said: 'I think he showed incredible courage. Being unable to swim and frightened of the water but still going in any way is more courageous than a lifeguard doing it.'

Arwen fully believes that had Tom been one minute later, she would have lost her life.

'I would have died,' she said. 'There is no way I could have got out of that on my own. I remember thinking, ok, I've lost my strength, can't move, can't breath, this is it.'

Head of auxiliary coastguards in Teignmouth John Hook said that when they received the call they sent out search parties from Dawlish Warren and Dawlish and found them quickly.

An ambulance crew present said that because of their condition, they should be airlifted out.

The railway line was closed, the helicopter was called and it landed on the line, in what Mr Hook says was one of the most skilful pieces of airmanship he has ever seen.

'The helicopter had to land in the dark, with a side on wind and spray that was blowing off the sea.' he said. 'It was very rough.'

The two casualties were airlifted to Torbay and released soon afterwards.

The dog was fine as well. She managed to get out on her own. Arwen said she remembered asking if Jess was all right, and she was right by her side on the wall before she went to hospital.

Arwen and Jess have been happily reunited, but Jess is not as fond of a walk on the beach as she used to be.