Swansea Coastguard has praised Antony Jordan, of Brynymor, for his part in the dramatic rescue.

The 10-year-old Burry Port schoolboy has received a special award after he saved his friend from drowning.

The Burry Port Junior School pupil and his four friends were playing on the beach when the tide cut them off.

It was Antony's quick-thinking and cool head that helped save 13-year-old Kimberly Hawkins from being swept away.

The others had managed to wade back to shore but Kimberly was stranded waist deep in water.

Antony said: "I told Jodie and Kayleigh to go and phone 999 and told Janine to get a lifebuoy.

"We threw it in but Kimberly couldn't hold on to it, so I jumped in and managed to keep her afloat and tried to calm her down. Then I started pulling her to shore, I did it without thinking, I just wanted to help her."

Antony has this week been presented with a framed letter of thanks from the coastguard service.

Swansea coastguard's operation manager Eric Birkett said, "We have presented Anthony with a framed letter of thanks for his assistance in the rescue of the young girl.

"We recognise the fortitude and sensibility of this young man in carrying out this rescue, he kept his cool under pressure.

"The main message we wanted to get across to children, is if they see someone in any trouble dial 999 and ask for the coastguard straight away."

He said they also spoke to the pupils at Burry Port Junior School about the lifebuoy rings and how they can save someone's life.

Antony's mum, Jayne, said: "We are very proud of him, he's only 10 years old, he was brilliant."