‘THE KID WAS IN TROUBLE ...I HAD TO HELP’
Grandad rescued 6-yr-old swept out to sea:
A HERO granddad saved a six-year-old boy from drowning after he got into difficulty on a North Wales beach.
The incident, which happened at around 2.40pm on Saturday afternoon, saw the Coastguard, Criccieth lifeboat, the ambulance service and police descend on the popular Morfa Bychan – Black Rock Sands beach.
They were alerted by the boy’s frantic father as his son was quickly blown out to sea while playing on an inflatable swan.
Sam McKeever, who was enjoying a day out with his daughter and three grandchildren as the event unfolded, heard the boy’s mother shouting for help.
The 57-year-old from Towyn immediately jumped into the water and swam out to the boy who, by this point, had come off the inflatable and was lying face down in the water.
Mr McKeever said: “I had to do something to help, the kid was in trouble and I heard the boy’s mum shout for help and I just jumped in.
“He was far away from shore, and it took me a few minutes to get to him but luckily I’m quite a strong swimmer.”
He added: “There was another person trying to help but he couldn’t do too much as he was so exhausted.
“The boy was face down and unconscious.
“I managed to turn him over and patted him on his back.
“Sick and a lot of water came up, but at least he was breathing again.”
The builder said: “I managed to get him back to shore and by this point the emergency services had arrived, and the boy was given oxygen and airlifted to Ysbyty Gwynedd. “I was thanked by the boy’s parents and by the emergency services and now I’m just getting on with our day with the family.” He added: “My daughter and grandchildren were a bit worried it was me in trouble when they saw me.
“I’m just glad I could help.”
The Coastguard Rescue Helicopter airlifted the boy to hospital. A spokesman for Holyhead Coastguard said: “A six-year-old boy was blown out to sea in an inflatable white swan.
“We were called at 2.40pm by the distraught father of the boy who couldn’t believe how fast his boy was being swept out. “We asked him not to enter the water as help was on its way.
“The boy was luckily rescued but had ingested a lot of water and was quite slurred in his speech and lethargic. As a result the paramedics wanted him to be checked over in hospital, and so the Coastguard rescue helicopter flew him to Ysbyty Gwynedd.”
The spokesman added: “We want people to have fun at our beaches but to also stay safe. Please leave the inflatables at home as they are designed for swimming pools.
“Or if they are brought they should remain tethered. If people do get into trouble then 999 should be called immediately.”