A MAN remained in a critical condition in hospital today after being pulled from the sea unconscious with his friend who later died.The man, who is aged in his 40s and from St Osyth, was one of five men who jumped into the water off Clacton Pier in a drink-fuelled prank on Saturday.

A MAN remained in a critical condition in hospital today after being pulled from the sea unconscious with his friend who later died.

The man, who is aged in his 40s and from St Osyth, was one of five men who jumped into the water off Clacton Pier in a drink-fuelled prank on Saturday.

Two of the men got into difficulties and had to be rescued by RNLI crews and one of them, John Castlemaine, later died in hospital.

The second man, who has not been named, was still critically ill in Colchester General Hospital today.