A Somerset woman has shared the harrowing experience of rescuing a 13-year-old boy from drowning in Cornwall. Rachel Mckernan, from Glastonbury, was visiting her friend Celena Wolfe, from Bodmin, during a birthday weekend trip when they decided to visit Summerleaze Beach in Bude.
While swimming, they noticed a crowd onshore signaling lifeguards. A young boy was struggling in the water, already submerged at times despite the frantic attempts to alert help. Seeing they were closest, Rachel and Celena immediately swam to the boy to keep him afloat until lifeguards arrived.
Rachel was the first to reach him, but the panicked boy, exhausted and terrified, clung to her and pulled her underwater for several seconds. “The fear in his eyes is something I will never forget,” Rachel recalled. “He was so panicked, he grabbed me tightly, dragging me under. Even though I’m a strong swimmer, it was overwhelming.”
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Celena followed closely behind. Rachel managed to break free enough to hold the boy’s arm and instructed him to stay calm and float on his back. When Celena arrived, they both supported him, struggling against the strong current to keep afloat.
They knew they couldn’t bring him back to shore alone but were determined to keep him alive until lifeguards arrived. Lifeguards later told them their prompt action prevented a tragedy, as the boy was already underwater when they reached him.
Although it felt like an eternity, lifeguards arrived within about five minutes. They quickly placed the boy onto a rescue board and began the journey back to shore, while Rachel and Celena waited to be picked up by another lifeguard.
Rachel described the relief at seeing the lifeguard arrive like “seeing a god” in the sunshine. “It’s exhausting to keep yourself and someone else afloat against the current,” she said. “We just wanted to make sure he was safe.”
Back on shore, the boy was taken to A&E to be checked for secondary drowning after swallowing water. Rachel later learned he was expected to make a full recovery. The boy’s family expressed deep gratitude for the bravery and quick thinking of the two women.
Rachel, a mother of three, said the risk they took was worth it. “When you see a child in danger like that, there’s no question you go to help,” she said. “I’m grateful Celena was with me because alone, I might have struggled. But the real heroes are the lifeguards, who acted swiftly and professionally.”
She emphasized the importance of recognizing lifeguards’ vital work and praised them for their prompt response.