The schoolgirl, who cannot swim, was suffering an asthma attack as he battled to get to her.

Mr Wright, aged 41,managed to clamber into the dinghy and paddle it to shore but then collapsed with exhaustion at the water’s edge and had to be airlifted to hospital. The drama unfolded on a family holiday at Borth, in Wales on Friday.

Mr Wright, aged 41, got his daughter Gemma back to the shore after the inflatable boat drifted about 800 yards.

Back at home in Goscote Lane, Goscote, Walsall, the relieved family praised coastguards for their swift action.

He had taken his daughters Gemma, aged 13, Kelly, 16, and Paige, aged two, to Borth for a week’s break joined by his estranged wife Tracey.

“I think any parent would have done the same. It was a bit of a nerve wracking experience and very scary,” Mr Wright explained.

“Gemma went paddling in the dinghy and then my eldest said she had gone too far and was screaming. I swam towards her and she tried to paddle towards me, but started to panic and suffered an asthma attack.

“She got on to the side of the boat, but I told her to stay in. I started to panic too because she can’t swim. Before I could reach her I went under and took in some sea water, but I was determined to get to her.

“I eventually got into the dinghy and started paddling towards the shore. Apparently the coastguards were shouting that they would rescue us, but I didn’t hear them.

“We got back to the shore, but I collapsed face down. My eldest and one of the rescuers ran over and pulled me out of the water.

Mr Wright, a forklift driver, was treated at the scene before being taken by air ambulance to Bronglais Hospital, in Aberystwyth, for tests.

Gemma, a pupil at Shelfield Sports and Community College, was also taken to the hospital, but both were discharged a few hours later.

By Deborah Stewart

Popular stories:

• Video of gardener’s strange find
• Escaped vulture roaming the Midlands
• Dining Out archive
• Immigrant steals £1.2 million from Birmingham Council
• Readers’ letters