Sixth Former rescues swimmer thanks to crucial lifeguard training at school

Harry H (PH, UVI) has highlighted the importance of school lifeguard courses after he had to put his training to use in a real life-saving situation over the summer.  

Harry was at a festival in Cornwall over the summer when a nearby swimmer got into trouble. The Salopian put his lifeguarding knowledge into practice, which he had learned in school last year.  

Harry said: “A highlight of my last school holiday was going to the Boardmasters Festival for the first time with a group of school friends.  On about the second day we decided that we would go to Fistral Beach for the day to make the most of the great weather.   

“The sea was full of students having fun in the sun, lots of noise and commotion and then I noticed that a man in the water kept looking at me.  He wasn’t saying anything but looked anxious and quite quickly after this started to shout for help.   

“We were in deep water with no chance of standing up so the situation quickly escalated in seriousness.  All the other swimmers around me were shouting that they didn’t know what to do so I instinctively swam over to the struggling man and put him on his back so that I could take him to the shore and to safety.  It felt like it took ten minutes to get him to the beach where I checked that he was ok.  He was shaken up and scared but said he was fine and was very grateful for the rescue.   

“When I got home after the Festival, I told my family about the scenario and my Grandfather (who is currently working on our family tree) showed me a newspaper cutting from the Essex Chronicle in 1950, also in August, in which my great-grandparents were praised for rescuing a man in a swimming pool.  They had had no training so it took two of them to rescue one man, however, they were successful! 

Harry (left) Scuba Diving on Field Day

Harry added how important it is to make the most of opportunities offered at school and undertake crucial courses, such as the lifeguard course. 

“I have always loved swimming and water sports, so it made sense to me to do my Lifeguard Course at School.  This recent situation has made me realise how important it is to feel safe in water so I will ensure I keep my qualification up to date, especially as I love scuba diving and surfing too.”