'His friend clung to his leg' - Blackpool hero, 15, saves friend from life-or-death incident at sea

A heroic teenager who has twice found himself at the centre of life-or-death emergencies is being recognised for his extraordinary courage after helping to save two lives.

At the weekend, Charlie Campbell safely got himself and his panic-stricken friend to shore, after being cut off by the tide between Central and South Pier when they walked across the sands to play football.

The fun quickly turned to danger when the pair found themselves too far out when the tide started to surround them.

With his friend unable to swin and recognising the danger they were in, Charlie, 15, of Lune Grove, calmly took control of the situation, using his strength to tow his friend safely back to shore before the lifeboat crew arrived.

His proud mum, Andrea Campbell said: “We are immensely proud of him, it was the first time I had allowed him to go to the beach on his own.

“I got a phone call from his phone but it was the paramedics calling to tell me what had happened. That fear when first said who they were - but how proud I am of him.

“His friend had clung to his leg and Charlie pulled them both to shore - they were as far out as the end of the piers. There were some sections where they could stand but others were deeper.

But it’s not the first time the teen, who trains in Judo with Ross Goodwin at Rascals Enhancing Lives Community Hub, has saved a life this year.

The first incident occurred earlier this year when Charlie, a pupil at Highfield Leadership Academy, witnessed a friend choking.

Without hesitation, he immediately alerted nearby staff before placing his friend into the recovery position, helping to keep their airway clear while waiting for medical assistance.

His calm and decisive actions prevented an already dangerous situation from becoming even more serious.

Andrea believes his Judo training and professional wrestling played a vital role in his response during both emergencies.

The disciplines have taught him to stay calm under pressure, think clearly in high stress situations, and make confident decisions when every second counts.

Rather than simply moving on from these experiences, Charlie is now determined to use his story to make a difference.

He is launching a campaign encouraging schools, workplaces and community organisations to place a greater emphasis on teaching essential life saving skills, including first aid, water safety and swimming.

Charlie hopes that by sharing his experiences, more young people and adults will gain the confidence and knowledge needed to act in an emergency, potentially saving lives in the future.

Ross Goodwin, coach at Rascals Enhancing Lives Community Hub, said: "Charlie represents everything we try to build in our young people.

“Success in sport is fantastic, but developing character, discipline, courage and the ability to help others is what truly matters.

“We are incredibly proud of Charlie. His actions have shown that the confidence and composure can make a genuine difference when lives are on the line. He is an inspiration to our entire community.

“We are proud we enhance lives but Charlie is a true hero in actually saving them".

Charlie's actions serve as a powerful reminder that heroes are often ordinary young people who choose to act when others need them most.