Call for better warnings as surfer rescues teen

A SURFER has described how he rescued a terrified teenager being swept out on a rip tide at a Welsh beach two days before a mass rescue there.

- ABBIE WIGHTWICK Education editor

Mark Lewis warned someone could die unless better warning signs are put up at what is known as the slip at Aberavon Beach.

Mark had gone down to the shore to check what the surf was like at around 6pm on Friday and was fully dressed when he heard shouts from the water.

Seeing a man in his 60s trying to help a child while a teenager was in difficulty too, Mark waded in when he heard the teen yell “I can’t swim” and saw all three were being pulled out.

His rescue was followed by “a mass casualty” incident when children got into difficulties on the same beach two days later.

“I could hear a commotion,” Mark said, “when I stood up I saw a kid of about 12 and a man in his 60s had swum out to him. He was a poor swimmer and got caught in the rip and was tired. He was only just out of his depth but he was in the rip.

“The I heard someone shout ‘I can’t swim! He was older, around 15 and was either a poor swimmer or couldn’t swim. The man in his 60s then tried to get to the older kid as the younger kid had managed to get out.