'I knew what I had to do' - Hero teenage Blackpool life-saving student on plans to prevent more deaths at sea

A teenage lifesaver is to a launch a campaign stressing the importance of youngsters learning to swim and having a knowledge of first aid.

Charlie Campbell, 15, from Blackpool has twice recently found himself at the centre of life-or-death emergencies.

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

Charlie, a pupil at Highfield Leadership Academy, was also quick to react earlier this year when he 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.

Now, Charlie 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.

He 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.

“I just want to get the message across about how important it is to be able to swim and to have a knowledge of basic first aid,” he said.

“Along with schools, activity clubs are what I am aiming at - it really can a make a difference.

“When these incident happened, I just knew what I had to do. I learned to swim from an early age and my parents encouraged me to have a knowledge of first aid.

“You really don’t know when it might be necessary.”

Charlie trains in Judo at Rascals Enhancing Lives Community Hub, based in Grasmere Road, Blackpool and he is already spreading the word about his campaign there.

He plans to approach similar organisations across the area, and schools in earnest when the new academic year gets under way, as well as stressing the need for perhaps signage at the beach advising how far out towards the sea it might be safe to go.

His mum Andrea Campbell said: “We are immensely proud of him.”

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