A man drowned after being hit by a large wave while his family watched from the shore, an inquest has heard.
Simon Lightbody, 48, from Reigate in Surrey, was pulled from the water by emergency services at Blackpool Sands near Dartmouth in Devon on Monday afternoon after going for a swim.
An inquest into his death was opened at Devon Coroner's Court on Thursday. The court heard his cause of death was drowning.
Lightbody, who was born in Northern Ireland, was "hit by a large wave" and could not be seen in the water by his family, the hearing was told.
Emergency services were called, and a lifeboat recovered his body from the water.
The court adjourned the hearing for a full inquest.
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Inquest Hears Man Drowned at Devon Beach as Family Watched