DESPERATE pier workers saved a teenager's life after he got into difficulty while swimming off Clacton.

Przemek Jakiela and Amy Bayliss have been praised for helping to save a boy who was struggling in the water close to Clacton Pier.

They tried in vain to save his 15-year-old friend Ben Quartermaine.

When a member of the public raised the alarm, Mr Jakiela, 40, was the first to get to the scene.

He threw one of the pier's lifebelts over the side to the youngster, but due to the wind and currents was unable to reach him at first.

After throwing the belt a number of times, the teenager was able to grab hold and Mr Jakiela kept a firm grip of the rope.

He was helped by Miss Bayliss, who works at the Boardwalk bar, until an RNLI crew managed to pull the youngster out of the water.

Mr Jakiela continued his shift at the Pier before leaving at 9pm.

“I was just doing my job and what we have been trained to do if anything like this happens,” he said.

“Other members of staff, including Amy, also came along to assist and luckily the lifeboat was able to get to the lad, pull him into their boat and bring him ashore.”

Mr Jakiela, from Clacton, said even though the teenager had the belt he was still being dragged under the Pier by the currents.

The second youngster, now known to be Ben Quartermaine, was also in the water, but nothing could be done to rescue him.

Mr Jakiela, who has worked in the amusement arcade for eight years, added: “As I got there I just saw his head go under and he disappeared and did not come back up again.

“There was just nothing we could do for him.”

Nigel Brown, Clacton Pier’s communications manager, said if not for staff’s swift actions it could have been a different story.

“The lifebelts are relatively heavy and it was difficult conditions, but Przemek persisted with throwing the belt – around ten to 12 times – until he managed to get it to the lad,” he said.

“We cannot say what might have happened had he not got the belt to him but there would definitely have been less time to the lifeboat to get to him.

"He was pretty exhausted already, struggling to stay above the water and waving his arms.

“Przemek is a very reluctant hero, but a hero none the less and he helped to save the youngster’s life. Amy also played a significant role helping to hang on to the rope.”

Billy Ball, pier managing director, said new lifebelts had recently been put in place, each in an enclosed plastic case, to prevent removal by others.

“We unfortunately had a number of belts taken and thrown away by vandals in the past and it was becoming a serious problem,” he added.

“The new equipment was put in a year ago and has proved invaluable on this occasion.”

Mr Ball praised Przemek and Amy’s efforts and said that the thoughts and prayers of everyone at the Pier are with the family and friends of the missing teenager.

The search was suspended on Saturday morning after a body, provisionally identified as that of Ben Quartermaine, was found close to Clacton Pier.