A FATHER from Kidd-erminster has revealed how he became stuck in thigh-high mud during a futile struggle to save his partner's five-year-old daughter.

Laurence Boyle battled in vain to rescue Lelaina Hall, from Worcester, who drowned after becoming trapped in mudflats on a Somerset beach this summer.

She was on holiday with her mother Caroline, Mrs Hall's partner Mr Boyle and his two young children when the tragedy happened on June 23.

Mr Boyle told an inquest in Taunton he had tried to save the girl, who had run out more than a mile towards the sea at Berrow beach near Burnham-on Sea.

She became trapped in deep mud at the water's edge and drowned as the tide came in.

Mr Boyle and Lelaina's mother had become concerned after Lelaina and his own seven-year-old daughter wandered out towards the sea and began to disappear.

His daughter managed to walk back but Lelaina continued and Mr Boyle started to chase after her.

He struggled through the mud - which almost reached his waist - but never managed to get within 200 yards of her.

Mr Boyle told the inquest: "My footing was becoming increasingly difficult and I was sticking in the mud.

"I was getting to the stage where every step was becoming an effort."

When he eventually reached the water's edge he could no longer see the five-year-old and was trapped himself.

The coastguard's mud rescue team arrived and realised it would be unable to reach Lelaina and called for an RAF rescue helicopter which spent half-an-hour looking for her in the sea before rescuing Mr Boyle.

Lelaina was found in the water shortly afterwards. Rescuers attempted to resuscitate her but she died later at Weston General Hospital.

Mr Boyle told the inquest he had not seen any warning signs on the beach or at the holiday park where they were staying.

A Sedgemoor District Council spokesman said there were signs on the beach and safety leaflets available, adding more signs had since been put up.

The inquest was adjourned for the jury to visit the beach.