A CORONER praised a man’s best friend after hearing how he battled in vain against mountainous waves in a stormy sea at Scarborough to save him from drowning.

North Yorkshire East Coroner, Michael Oakley, told Timothy Connor, of New Parks Crescent, Scarborough, that he had made “a great valiant effort” to save 32 year-old self employed roofer, Andrew McGeown after he jumped into the sea at the resort’s Spa to save his Staffordshire bull terrier, which had been washed out by giant waves.

Mr Connor agreed with the Coroner at the inquest hearing at Scarborough yesterday that in hindsight, it had been “fool hardy and risky” to have gone to the Spa when it was known there was a heavy sea.

“We knew the sea was rough,” said Mr Connor added that Mr McGeown had been about 30 metres ahead of him. “I saw a big wave come over and it sucked the dog into the sea.

“As soon as it happened, Andrew jumped over the seawall into the sea to save it.”

But the drop had been more severe than he envisaged.

Instead of the water being waist-high, it was more than 6ft due to the high seas washing away the sand.

Mr Connor said he repeatedly managed to grab his friend but each time the waves beat him as he tried to pull him to safety.

Mr Oakley said medical reports showed that Mr McGeown had drowned.

He said Mr McGeown had immediately gone over the sea wall when his dog was washed out to sea and had managed to push it to Mr Connor to save.

But the combination of high winds and a heavy sea had prevented Mr Connor from saving his friend despite his “valiant attempts”

The coroner recorded a conclusion of accidental death.