A man drowned after trying to rescue his dog from the sea at Blackpool.

Richard Maxwell, 56, was pulled unconscious from the water after he jumped in when the dog, called JD, was swept away by the tide.

His partner, Elizabeth Anderson, and friends desperately tried to resuscitate him by the shore until police and paramedics arrived.

Further efforts were made to get him breathing again but these failed and Mr Maxwell was pronounced dead at Victoria Hospital, Blackpool.

His funeral will take place in his home city of Bradford next week.

Miss Anderson, 55, told how the group had decided to go for a swim shortly before midnight last Friday after having a few drinks at the home they shared in Dickson Road, North Shore, Blackpool.

"It was a warm night so we decided to take the dog for a walk and then decided to go in the sea," she said.

"The dog jumped in and it was getting swept away by the tide so Richard jumped in after it.

"Our dog managed to get out but Richard was in trouble.

"We got him out of the water and I ran for help.

"We tried our hardest to resuscitate him and there was a slight pulse but we kept losing him and eventually we lost him completely.

"We think he might have banged his head on the sea wall but we can't be sure.

"I had to go and identify his body but I don't think it has sunk in yet - I'm still in shock."

Mr Maxwell moved to Bradford from County Cork, Ireland, with his family as a boy and grew up in the city. He has a son and a daughter from a previous relationship.

He was forced to retire a few years ago after contracting thrombosis, said Miss Anderson.

An inquest into Mr Maxwell's death was yesterday opened and adjourned by Fylde Coroner Samuel Lee pending further inquiries.

The accident took place at the same spot where four police officers died 20 years ago when they went into the sea to save a man who had gone into the water to rescue his dog.

A requiem mass for Mr Maxwell will be held at St Patrick's RC Church in Westgate, Bradford, led by Father Jeremiah Murphy, at 10am next Tuesday, followed by internment at Scholemoor Cemetery.