Paul Lee, 65, was on a day out with the family at Clacton beach when the tragedy unfolded.
Mr Lee went out to swim around 10.30am during the hot weather.
But after being gone for fifteen minutes, his daughter went looking for him to find he had drowned and was lying face down in the water unconcious.
Mr Lee’s horrified daughter screamed for help and paramedics were called but he could not be saved.
Coroner’s assistant, Marianne Robson, told the inquest at Essex Coroners’ Court in Chelmsford: “On August 10, this gentleman went to Clacton beach with his family.
“He went swimming in the sea but, after 10 to 15 minutes, his daughter noticed he was laying face down in the water being brought in by the waves.”
The post-mortem conducted last week on August 14th showed Mr Lee had drowned .
Senior coroner, Caroline Beasley-Murray said: “I would like some photos of where exactly on the beach it was.
“I believe it was east, which is the side of the pier where there have been some other fatalities.”
A full inquest date has been scheduled for November 17 this year.
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