A trio of friends in South Surrey are being lauded for their lifesaving skills after pulling two struggling swimmers from the water this month.
Kate Hunter, Lily Cox and Georgia Springate 乌鸦传媒� all 11 years old and members of the 乌鸦传媒� were at the beach on the evening of Aug. 18 when they realized two swimmers, a young woman and a teenager, were in distress.
乌鸦传媒淲e were just pier jumping, then one person asked us to help this woman to the ladder,乌鸦传媒� Lily recounted. 乌鸦传媒淲e had just jumped in.乌鸦传媒�
As Lily towed the woman to the pier ladder 乌鸦传媒� in what she described as a 乌鸦传媒減retty cold, strong current乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒� Kate swam to help a teenager who was clearly struggling after having jumped in wearing a T-shirt and leggings.
Once the woman was safe, Lily and Georgia headed to assist Kate.
Initally trying to also bring the teenager to the pier ladder, the current proved too strong, so the girls headed for the beach instead.
乌鸦传媒淲e were getting tired,乌鸦传媒� Lily told Peace Arch News. 乌鸦传媒�It was cold and we were pretty far out.乌鸦传媒�
Lily乌鸦传媒檚 mom, Julie Cox, was among parents who saw the events unfold from the shore.
乌鸦传媒淭he current was pulling (the younger swimmer),乌鸦传媒� Cox said. 乌鸦传媒淪he was out for a fair amount of time. It was evident that she was going down. The second time (she went under), it was that little bit too long. That乌鸦传媒檚 when the girls all circled around her.乌鸦传媒�
Cox said it was clear that most people at the beach didn乌鸦传媒檛 realize the potential tragedy unfolding in front of them.
乌鸦传媒淚f the girls hadn乌鸦传媒檛 been in the water, I don乌鸦传媒檛 know how (the distressed swimmers) would乌鸦传媒檝e gotten that assistance.乌鸦传媒�
The three friends learned what to do in such a situation through CBSC乌鸦传媒檚 junior lifeguard program, which is offered for 10- to 14-year-olds through July and August.
Georgia乌鸦传媒檚 mom, Cynthia Springate said too many who visit to enjoy the waters are oblivious to its dangers.
乌鸦传媒淎 lot of people don乌鸦传媒檛 know how strong this current can be,乌鸦传媒� she said. 乌鸦传媒淚f someone乌鸦传媒檚 not watching乌鸦传媒ξ谘淮綕
Everyone should know how to swim, she said 乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒渁nd when they should or shouldn乌鸦传媒檛.乌鸦传媒� The risks are just too high.
乌鸦传媒淥ur kids put themselves in some peril to save people who weren乌鸦传媒檛 making good decisions about water safety. People have died trying to rescue people.乌鸦传媒�
In a newsletter distributed to club members Aug. 20 乌鸦传媒� titled 乌鸦传媒榃hen Bravery Meets Preparation乌鸦传媒� 乌鸦传媒� following word of the girls乌鸦传媒� efforts, president Bob Armstrong also emphasizes the importance of having such skills.
乌鸦传媒淪ometimes events unfold, people react and all that water safety training comes in handy and saves a life,乌鸦传媒� Armstrong writes.
Thursday, the girls said they weren乌鸦传媒檛 scared, and simply acted on instinct.
乌鸦传媒淚n the moment, we weren乌鸦传媒檛 really thinking what to do,乌鸦传媒� said Kate.
Armstrong describes the girls as 乌鸦传媒渙ur newest local heroes.乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淭here were plenty of adults on hand but it was these three girls that assessed the situation, jumped in and prevented what could have been a catastrophe.
乌鸦传媒淲e are extremely proud of you.乌鸦传媒�
