Bather died at Norfolk beach after crying for help in Polish

A BATHER who drowned off a Norfolk beach had failed to alert others to his predicament because he shouted for help in Polish.

Families relaxing on the beach at Sea Palling thought instead that the man and his colleagues were “messing around”. One man aged 54 died and a 26-year-old was airlifted to hospital in critical condition.

Part of a group of four, they had been caught in a rip tide on Saturday but when they screamed for help, nearby holidaymakers did not initially react as they yelled in Polish, not English.

Neil Ramsay, a kite surfer who was on the beach, said when he realised the men were struggling, he rang 999 and dived in with a bodyboard, dragging the men to shore helped by David Castleman, 14. Mr Ramsay, 44, of Norwich, said: “There were four people in the sandy bank area – they were messing around making quite a bit of noise, shouting in Polish.” Minutes later, when onlookers realised they were in trouble, “everyone sprang into action”.

Mr Ramsay said: “I’m disappointed that I didn’t get in the water earlier. Once everyone realised, there were seven or eight people in the water.” David, who has passed his Royal Life Saving Society’s Survive & Save gold award, said: “I just thought ‘there’s someone out there drowning. I know what to do and I’m a strong swimmer.’”

David saw that the younger man was showing signs of life and towed him to the beach: “I had to use both hands – to hold his neck and pull, and the other to hold his head up,” said the schoolboy from Epping, Essex, who was on holiday with his parents. “The water was trying to pull you out, and it was almost as if it was trying to pull you under at the same time. It used up all my strength and I was exhausted afterwards.”

People on the beach including David’s father John and an off-duty doctor used a resuscitation procedure on the men until emergency services arrived, but the older man died. The younger victim was taken by helicopter to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge.

David’s mother Julia said: “He’s a strong, trained swimmer – we are so proud of him.” Jack Hood of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, urged bathers to use supervised beaches and Richard Price, district councillor for Sea Palling, said new warning signs had been put up at the beach.