A man who drowned in rough seas at a picturesque beach has been described as a "great father".

Jayarajah Katheeswaran of Shenley Road, Borehamwood, was pulled from the water by lifeguards after being spotted getting into difficulty outside the safe-swim zone at the Sandbanks beach, near Poole Harbour, Dorset, on August 20.

The 37-year-old Sri Lankan was visiting the popular tourist spot as part of the Islamic and Cultural Society of Harrow’s annual excursion.

His wife of eight years Vythekey Katheeswaran said: “It is like a dream now.

“He was a great father. I am so proud of him. He worked as a computer repair service and was the only one in Borehamwood. Everyone knew him.

"He did everything to help everyone."

Mr Katheeswaran set up his own business in Shenley Road, Borehamwood, around five years ago.

Following his death, Mrs Katheeswaran is unsure what will happen to the business.

The father-of two, whose young child is less than two months old, left Harrow with a group of other travellers that morning for a day at the beach.

Mrs Katheeswaran said: "I was not there when it happened because my son was too young to go with them.

"He went with a group of friends. More than 100 people were on the trip.

"The coroner has said he drowned and his lungs were filled with water.

"Apparently it was quite quick and only lasted about 10 minutes."

Another member of the coach trip, Ajan Ariyaratnam, said people on the beach saw a man struggling in the water.

He said: “My cousin and his children went into the water and they came back immediately because of the high waves.

“When he came back he warned everyone not to go there because of these high waves.

“A few minutes later three of our friends went into the water. One of them went further.

"Suddenly my sister saw that he was drowning, so she shouted ‘help, help’.

“Every one of us ran towards the sea to try to help him, and two of the friends ran to get the lifeguard.

"When the lifeguard pulled him out of the sea, he gave him first aid and CPR, but could not help.

“They called the emergency services for further help – there was still no sign of breathing – so they called an air ambulance to try and save his life.

“Unfortunately he was dead at the scene. It was so horrible – a tragic accident.”

An inquest and post mortem into Mr Katheeswaran’s death found he had died as a result of drowning.

Bournemouth coroner officer Allan Young told the hearing the sea was, by all accounts, “extremely rough”.

He said: “Lifeguards were alerted that a man was swimming out of the markers and was overcome by the current."

Mrs Katheeswaran is urging people to educate themselves about rip currents and waves.

She said: "This is the first time I have heard anything about rip currents and waves.

"People need to be more aware of them. They are very dangerous. My husband was a strong swimmer but this was too tough for him."

Mr Katheeswaran's funeral was held on August 28 and more than 200 people who knew him attended.

The inquest has been adjourned until November 26.