TWO cafe workers have been hailed as heroes after rescuing a drowning woman off Southend seafront.

Paul Thompson, 33, and John Johnson, 35, risked their own lives by jumping into the water fully clothed to drag the distressed woman back to safety.

The pair were working at Pebbles One, in Marine Parade, late on Saturday afternoon when they noticed a woman frantically trying to use an emergency phone next to their kiosk.

Mr Thompson said: "I went over and said, Is everything OK?'. She told me there was a lady in the water screaming for help.

"I called over to John, we got down to the water and the lady was quite a way out, panicking and struggling.

"The tide was going out and she must have got caught unawares.

"I tried to get the woman's attention, but she then went under the water a couple of times, so I kicked off my shoes and went in."

Mr Thompson swam out about 40 metres to reach the woman.

He said: "I got hold of her and started pulling her in. She was shaken, so I tried to calm her down. I got halfway back, but was fighting against the tide.

"I still had my clothes on and they were weighing me down. John swam out and helped me bring her in."

Mr Johnson said: "I was on the phone to the ambulance when I had to jump in.

"We laid her on the beach and patted her on the back to get the water out.

"There were quite a few people watching us and they all said well done'.

"We were sopping wet and out of breath, but I'm really glad we did it. It was our good deed for the day."

The woman, who is thought to have been in her early thirties and from London, was checked over by ambulance workers at the scene, but did not need to be taken to hospital.

Fellow Pebbles One worker, Leanne Elliott, 18, said she was impressed by the bravery of her colleagues.

She said: "I was amazed by their actions.

"I didn't realise what had happened at first, but was gobsmacked when I found out. I'm so proud of them for doing it."