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Pic: RNLI/BNPS

Pictured: The lifeboat crew pull Brian Harding from the water.

The dramatic rescue of two fishermen after they were flung from their boat and swept out to sea has been captured on video.

David Henderson and Brian Harding's 16ft boat capsized when it struck a wave and threw them into the cold water.

They tried to swim to shore but were swept half-a-mile out to sea by the strong current at the mouth of Axmouth Harbour, Devon.

Mr Henderson, 52, became separated from his friend, whose leg was in a plaster cast, but floated on his back for around 30 minutes to avoid drowning. He used his dog walking torch to signal his position to rescuers on the shore and they were able to direct the lifeboat to his location.

The crewmen fished the dangerously cold man onto the boat while a helicopter searched for his friend. Mr Harding, 73, was eventually found and hoisted onto the helicopter and both men were rushed to hospital where it took two hours to raise their temperatures to safe levels.

The RNLI today released the helmet-cam video of the rescue to mark their safety at sea campaign promoting the 'Float to Live' technique ahead of what is likely to be a busy summer season for the charity.