during a snorkelling trip.

The man was swimming near Munro Beach Cottages in Southampton, where he was staying with his wife.

Seattle architect Mr. Tom Dunstan, another guest at the cottages, said he saw the man brought onto the nearby private beach on Saturday afternoon.

"When they picked him up he looked in very bad shape,'' he said. "They told me he hit his head diving and then couldn't make it back to his boat.

"He came to the surface and then called out for help. He very nearly drowned.'' A spokeswoman at the cottages said the man had recovered and resumed his vacation. His name was not released.