Brothers Andy and Paul Brown were working on sea defences for Bam Ritchies at Porthleven when they heard the woman’s screams from below.

The woman had been carried more than 100 feet from the beach by the dangerous swell.

Andy and Paul immediately rushed waist-deep into the surf, grabbing the woman as a large wave carried her back towards the shore.

Two of her three dogs drowned in the incident.

Patrick Carden, the works manager for Bam Ritchies, told local paper the West Briton:  “They heard her screams and saw her struggling on her back in the water.

“They ran in and dragged her out along with one of the dogs. They didn’t even see the other two dogs.

“It was just lucky that a large wave came and washed her back in or they wouldn’t have been able to get her.”

The rescue happened last Wednesday. Carden said the woman was shaken but unhurt and they looked after her until her family arrived.

A friend said she was too upset to speak but grateful to her rescuers.

Carden added: “It looked like a beautiful day but the waves were washing against the bottom of the steps. After it was over, the guys got changed out of their wet clothes into new overalls and went back to work.

“It was brave thing for them to do – it’s not in their job description.”

He said the company manager had written a letter to the men to thank them for their bravery.