Teenagers caught out by fast-rising firth tide

A TEENAGE swimmer saved her pal from drowning as a fast-moving tide swept on to a beach.

Abi Fyall held terrified Kasey Thomson’s head above water as three other pals clung to wooden posts in the sea off the Solway coast in Dumfries and Galloway.

The girls, all aged 13 and 14, were saved after people on the beach heard their cries and four men swam out to them.

The girls, from Dumfries, got into difficulties after being caught by the fast incoming tide at Sandyhills, near Dalbeattie, on Saturday afternoon.

Kasey’s mum Freda, 36, said: “The tide started to come in fast and surrounded them like a horseshoe. When they tried to get back to the main beach, the water was chest high. It got BY STEPHEN NORRIS choppy and started to carry them away.

“Three of the girls managed to swim out to old salmon net posts and clung on to them.

“Kasey could not get there but Abi managed to swim back to shore and phone 999 and her mum.

“She was confident enough to swim back to Kasey, who was so relieved she came back.

“Kasey is five foot eight but was bouncing up and down on her toes to keep above the water.

“Abi tried to bring her back but the current was too strong and the best she could do was keep Kasey afloat.”

Freda said Dumfries Amateur Swimming Club member Abi, who competes at Scottish national level, was “a lifesaver”. She said: “Abi deserves a medal.”