A two-year-old girl was fighting for her life last night after a beach tragedy which saw her father swept to his death.

The man and his wife, who are in their 30s, and two-year-old daughter were plucked from the waters after getting into trouble as 13ft waves and 10ft breaking waves lashed at Fistral Beach on the north-west coast of Cornwall.

Two other children were helped to safety after scrambling back onto the rocks.

Lifeguards carried out CPR on the man before he was taken by air ambulance to Treliske Hospital but died later.

His wife, who has minor injuries, and two year old daughter remained in hospital. The two other children were taken by ambulance to hospital.

Devon and Cornwall Police are appealing for witnesses after being alerted by a 999 call on Friday at 5.20pm. Winds in the area were said to have hit 50mph at times.

James Instance of the Falmouth Coastguard said: "The conditions were extreme. We went through a 24-hour period where the waves went from half a metre to three to four metres. You are probably looking at 10 foot breaking waves in this area. People swept in to the sea, very close to rocks. I think eventually that when they were found they were 50-60m off in what were absolutely treacherous conditions."