THE British man who died after rescuing his young daughters from a rip tide at a Portuguese holiday resort has been identified as a former Gable Hall student who grew up in Stanford-le-Hope.

Trevor Pelling, 45, had gone to the aid of his nine- and 12-year-old children who were struggling against a strong current when he died at Calada beach in Encarnacao, about an hour's drive northwest of Lisbon.

He suffered a cardiac arrest in the water and was pulled to shore by surfers.

He couldn't be saved despite the efforts of a nurse who happened to be on the beach, near the popular surfing resort of Ericeira.

The two girls were taken to hospital in Lisbon accompanied by their mum, and have been said to be in a stable condition.

Mr Pelling, who attended Gable Hall between 1987 and 1992, was a financial consultant who lived and worked in Abu Dhabi.