A dad who tried to save a stranger from drowning says he is still traumatised by the incident and can no longer go near the sea.
James Pugh has nightmares where he can see the young man's face.
He had been having dinner nearby when he dived into the water off Crosby beach, in Merseyside, after seeing student Hamza Mansoor, 22, get swept out on July 20 last year.
The 38-year-old was one of two who risked their own lives to help the man, with the business owner pulling him to the shore, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Another patient, aged 21, was taken to hospital.
James, from Crosby, has warned people about the risks of open water as the weather warms up.
"As the months have gone on I have struggled mentally with it," the dad-of-two said, referring to the incident.
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"I've had a few episodes where the guy has been shouting me, I've woken up and thought he was shouting me from downstairs and then I've had a nightmare where he's been swimming after me in the water and all I can see is his face in my sleep.
"I've struggled quite a bit.
"This is something I want to raise awareness about.
"The weather is getting nicer now so I know people are going to go in the sea and have a paddle.
"I just want people to be cautious. As we approach the anniversary, I don't want to wait until then to raise awareness.
"Obviously, it's going to be a big thing on the anniversary and I'm going to try and go down to the beach."
James found himself struggling to take his two daughters, Caitlin, nine, and Amelia, seven, swimming at the local swimming pool with him.
The dad said he had to leave early because he was so anxious with his children in the water.
He said: "It has now affected me where I feel like I can't have a paddle in the sea with my kids and that's something I need to get over.
"It's a place I like to go because it's a calm place. I used to love running on the sand dunes but it's somewhere now I don't want to go. I have been to the beach but I haven't been anywhere close to the water.
"I just can't bring myself to do it. It's now affecting me when I take my two children to the swimming baths as well. I'm dead anxious all the time."
James, who owns a maintenance company, added: "I think with the first anniversary approaching I want to get the message out now because I know that people are going to start going into open water as the weather gets better.
"People like having a paddle with their kids and a lot of people do take it on board but then you have some that don't."
