RESCUE DRAMA

Swimmers pulled from crashing waves by helicopter

- By WESLEY HOLMES ECHO Correspondent

TWO swimmers were rescued from heavy seas after getting into trouble while trying to help a woman who was in difficulty in the water.

Julie Clark, 69, was out with her swimming club when she noticed another woman drifting out to sea and tried to go to her aid.

She soon found herself clinging to the rocks in Leasowe Bay as the powerful waves overwhelmed her.

She said: "I was celebrating my 50th dip with four others from my local club, so it was just for some fun.

"We're quite sensible and we keep to the left of 'Jack, a big pipe on the far side of the beach. We don't go out of our depth but I'll admit that I do love jumping the waves it's what makes things different and fun."

The group usually stayed away from the mouth of the bay, where they'd been warned of potentially dangerous currents.

But Julie, from Wirral, noticed the woman heading into deeper water, and attempted to follow her, alongside another swimmer.

She said: "I called out to her with my colleague, warning about going past the post. Looking back, I think she might have already been in difficulty, and I couldn't see a float, which was very worrying.