Brave Alex rescues boy from waves (From Evesham Journal)

Brave Alex rescues boy from waves

8:00am Thursday 6th September 2012 in News By Sarah Taylor

A TEENAGER from Drakes Broughton put his life-saving skills into action when he rescued a 10-year-old boy who was floundering in the sea after being caught in a rip current.

Alex Griffin, aged 15, was surfing in Bude, Cornwall, on a family holiday when he spotted the youngster struggling.

The South Worcestershire Lifeguards assistant instructor paddled over to the boy who had been dragged out of his depth by the strong current and pulled him to safety.

“I was paddling out on my surf board and he drifted across in front of me.

“He was struggling and couldn’t touch the floor,”

said the Pershore High School pupil, of Magnolia Close.

“I helped him onto my board and back to shore. He had been swept out in a rip current. He was quite far out and probably in water just less than six foot deep. When we got to shore I asked him if he was all right and told him how to be safe in the water.

“If I hadn’t been there he would probably have been swept a quarter of a mile along to the next beach.

“Rip currents will pull you out and can pull you under if they are very strong. My parents said they were very proud of me.”

Mr Griffin has been a member of South Worcester Lifeguards for two-and-a-half years and has recently become a qualified assistant instructor.

Clive Corbett, headteacher of Pershore High, said everybody was really proud of Alex, who has just returned to school after the summer holidays.

He added: “In addition to being very busy in his final GCSE year it is wonderful to see Alex giving so much to the community and making such a difference in a meaningful and heroic way.”