COASTGUARDS have praised a woman who leapt into rough seas near New Milton on Sunday to rescue another woman who later died.

The woman, who was walking on the beach with a group of friends, spotted the body in the sea off the beach at Marine Drive in Barton-on-Sea and managed to drag the fully clothed woman from the water.

The rescuer was taken to Southampton General Hospital suffering from shock and hypothermia.

The death of the woman, who has not yet been named, is not being treated as suspicious.

Mudeford RNLI launched a lifeboat at 2.45pm on Sunday but attempts to resuscitate the woman, who is believed to be middle-aged, failed.

Ian Parker, senior lifeboat helmsman, praised the woman for her quick thinking.

He said: "It was a very brave thing to do. She managed to pull the person to shore and she got out safely herself.

"She decided to go in and try to pull this person to shore but unfortunately it was just a bit too late for the person.

"The woman acted on instinct and in this case did very well.

"The seas were quite choppy on Sunday so she had to get through some surf to get to shore. She was very courageous."

A spokesperson for Portland Coastguard said the two women were not known to each other.

A Hampshire police spokeswoman said police were still carrying out enquiries to ascertain the identity of the body.