A CARE worker has been hailed a hero after he plunged into the sea to save the life of a teenager with learning difficulties.

Romeo King, 32, a home care support worker, was praised for his efforts after rescuing the youngster when he ran into the sea on Worthing beach.

The head of Brighton and Hove City Council's disability care department, Jenny Brickell, wrote to Mr King commending him for his "bravery", saying he had selflessly placed himself in a "dangerous position" and saved the boy's life.

Mr King, from Brighton, had been looking after the teenager with a colleague as they went for a routine walk on seafront.

But the boy then ran away from the care workers and plunged into the rough sea before they could stop him.

Mr King sprung into action and waded in after the boy, managing to pull him back onto shore.

He said: "We were taking him back to the car walking by the seafront and from the promenade he just ran straight into the water.

"He kept going and the waves were just taking him further out into the sea.

"I jumped in, grabbed him, got him out of the water, saved him.

"The first responsibility was to make sure he was alright, get him changed. We were both soaked."

Mr King added: "I was thinking 'this young boy is going to die' because there was no turning back for him.

"The waves were absolutely blistering and he just could not stop.

"For me to stop him was very physically demanding.

"Upon reflection it was really scary. I really think there were possibilities we were both going to be taken away. "

The incident occurred on January 21 and the boy's parents contacted the council to express their gratitude for his efforts.

The disability services have now revised the boy's care plan so they will no longer take him for walks along the seafront.

Ms Brickell said in her letter to him said: "In taking this action you potentially saved his life and I am so grateful to you."