The cruel sea claimed the life of an Eritrean who had just helped rescue another man from possibly drowning in Paradise Bay yesterday afternoon.

The 32-year-old Eritrean man, Tekliab Ashih, was pulled out of the water by an AFM helicopter crew and flown to Mater Dei Hospital but efforts to save his life were unsuccessful.

He is believed to have been an employee of Paradise Bay Hotel and resided in St Paul’s Bay. The police said the Eritrean and a Frenchman, 20, went to assist another Frenchman who had found himself in difficulty in the rough seas.

They succeeded in pulling him onto the quay but the big waves pulled the Eritrean and his co-rescuer back into the swirling waters.

The young Frenchman was in turn rescued by an AFM patrol boat. He was suffering from exhaustion and needed medical attention, the AFM said.

The police last night said the condition of the two Frenchmen was still unknown.

Rough north-westerly seas made it dangerous to swim in the area yesterday.

In Buġibba earlier in the afternoon, a beach cleaner went to the rescue of two women who drifted out to sea on lilos and waved for help.