Sponsored by
Pedal bike hero
A FLEETWOOD schoolboy is lucky to be alive after being rescued from the sea by a have-a-go hero.
Arron Murray had been playing in the waves on Fleetwood beach when he got out of his depth.
The 13-year-old cried frantically for help as he struggled against the waves close to Chatsworth Avenue at 5pm on Wednesday.
Several passers-by ignored his pleas but Steven Matthewson, who was cycling past the beach, plunged into the surf to pull Arron to safety.
The 36-year-old said: "He was waving and in distress. I saw him out at sea at the end of the groynes.
"The water was up to his neck. I could hear him crying and screaming.
"I just went straight into the sea with my clothes and trainers on.
"But by the time I got to him I was completely shattered – I'm not as fit as I used to be."
Mr Matthewson, who has recently moved to Fleetwood, then had to pull the teenager back to shore.
He said: "I told him to try to hang on to my back but he was pulling me down and I was completely shattered and I was struggling to get to back ashore on my own.
"I started to panic. I thought 'this is it I'm a goner.' I had to kick my trainers off because they felt like steel-toed boots."
Eventually the pair reached the groyne and Arron, a student at Fleetwood Sports College, was helped to shore by his friend, who was waiting on the beach.
The teenager's mum, Jane Murray, of Eden Avenue in Fleetwood, said: "He's OK but he has got cuts on his legs and on his head. He was in the water with a friend and a wave came and swept him out.
"When he came home he was still in shock, he was bleeding from his cuts. He was very lucky.
"We are very thankful to Mr Matthewson."
The coastguard, Fleetwood RNLI and the police were called to the beach but heroic Mr Matthewson, who is preparing to start an offshore survival course at Fleetwood Nautical Campus, had already rescued the youngster.
He said: "I'm not as strong a swimmer as I thought.
"I haven't swum since I was at school. There was a strong current and I was getting nowhere."
The rescue services have hailed Mr Matthewson a hero.
Coastguard Mark Sumner said: "Other people were walking past and ignoring the boy who was certainly at risk of drowning. He's a real hero."
Aaron is now back at school and has recovered from his ordeal.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Blackpool
Monday 13 February 2012
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 3 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 32 mph
Wind direction: West
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 6 C to 8 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: North west
