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The death of a man who was trying to rescue a girl as they were diving off a Cornish beach was a "tragic accident", a coroner has concluded.

Paul Dold got into trouble in the water at East Portholland on 30 August as he was diving with his partner's daughter.

A rescue team pronounced Mr Dold dead after the pair were retrieved from the sea by members of the public.

Coroner Dr Emma Carlyon concluded at the Truro inquest Mr Dold's equipment had not malfunctioned.

The inquest heard the 43-year-old from Horsham, West Sussex was an experienced diver, who was on holiday with his partner and her children, and he was eager for the children to try new things.

Mr Dold's partner's 12-year-old daughter had been snorkelling the previous day with Mr Dold, and he felt she was confident enough to be able to try diving.

During the dive she twice dropped her breathing device, at which point Mr Dold attempted to hand her his own, causing a degree of panic between the pair.

But whilst the girl was able to surface Mr Dold was later pulled from the water and declared dead at the scene.

Dr Carlyon did note that his diving equipment was designed for cave diving rather than open water diving, but said there was no evidence this contributed to his death.

In her findings she also praised the actions of teenager Jago Bayley, who provided assistance and attempted to pull Mr Dold from the water.

The girl was later taken to Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, for treatment.