A father of three who risked his own life to swim out to an unconscious teenage girl in choppy waters off Tasmania's north coast vowed to stay with her "no matter what".
The 14-year-old is in a critical condition in Royal Hobart Hospital after being pulled from the ocean off Devonport's Mersey Bluff on Monday afternoon.
The girl was out swimming with a friend when the pair got into trouble.
Anthony King, who works with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, was at a meeting when he noticed people on the beach pointing out to sea.
"I saw a young girl face down in the water some distance off the rocks," Mr King told a local radio station.
"I made one of those adrenaline -fuelled decisions that I would try and do something."
Several police officers and others on the beach tried to swim out to the girl, who was more than a hundred metres off shore.
Only Mr King made it to her in tough conditions, as police and surf lifesaving crews launched rescue boats.
He tried to clear her airways, hold her afloat and give mouth-to-mouth while treading water and waiting for help to arrive.
"I was starting to fear for my own safety but I couldn't just leave her," he said.
"I made a conscious decision that I would stay with her no matter what."
The girl was taken to shore by a Devonport Surf Club rescue boat as Mr King clung to the vessel's side.
Her friend, also 14, earlier made it to shore safely and was treated for shock.
Tasmania Police sergeant Russell Judges told AAP he had "nothing but praise" for Mr King's actions.
"He disregarded his own safety and went out to save her," he said.
The beach, popular with families, was unpatrolled at the time.
Authorities have urged people to be cautious swimming in open waters and be aware of changing conditions, wind and currents.
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