Dramatic rescue at world championships after swimmer faints and sinks to bottom of pool

• Artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez pulled out unconscious by coach
• American doing very well' and hopes to compete on Friday

It is a sport that relies on teamwork and promises spectacle - but rarely like this. The world aquatics championships were the scene of a dramatic real-life rescue when the US artistic swimmer Anita Alvarez had to be pulled from the water by her coach after losing consciousness and sinking to the bottom of the pool.

Alvarez had just completed her solo free final in Budapest on Wednesday when she fainted and drifted to the bottom in front of horrified teammates, officials and spectators.