A trio of friends in South Surrey are being lauded for their lifesaving skills after pulling two struggling swimmers from the water this month.
Kate Hunter, Lily Cox and Georgia Springate â all 11 years old and members of the â were at the beach on the evening of Aug. 18 when they realized two swimmers, a young woman and a teenager, were in distress.
âWe were just pier jumping, then one person asked us to help this woman to the ladder,â Lily recounted. âWe had just jumped in.â
As Lily towed the woman to the pier ladder â in what she described as a âpretty cold, strong currentâ â Kate swam to help a teenager who was clearly struggling after having jumped in wearing a T-shirt and leggings.
Once the woman was safe, Lily and Georgia headed to assist Kate.
Initally trying to also bring the teenager to the pier ladder, the current proved too strong, so the girls headed for the beach instead.
âWe were getting tired,â Lily told Peace Arch News. âIt was cold and we were pretty far out.â
Lilyâs mom, Julie Cox, was among parents who saw the events unfold from the shore.
âThe current was pulling (the younger swimmer),â Cox said. âShe was out for a fair amount of time. It was evident that she was going down. The second time (she went under), it was that little bit too long. Thatâs when the girls all circled around her.â
Cox said it was clear that most people at the beach didnât realize the potential tragedy unfolding in front of them.
âIf the girls hadnât been in the water, I donât know how (the distressed swimmers) wouldâve gotten that assistance.â
The three friends learned what to do in such a situation through CBSCâs junior lifeguard program, which is offered for 10- to 14-year-olds through July and August.
Georgiaâs mom, Cynthia Springate said too many who visit to enjoy the waters are oblivious to its dangers.
âA lot of people donât know how strong this current can be,â she said. âIf someoneâs not watchingâŠâ
Everyone should know how to swim, she said â âand when they should or shouldnât.â The risks are just too high.
âOur kids put themselves in some peril to save people who werenât making good decisions about water safety. People have died trying to rescue people.â
In a newsletter distributed to club members Aug. 20 â titled âWhen Bravery Meets Preparationâ â following word of the girlsâ efforts, president Bob Armstrong also emphasizes the importance of having such skills.
âSometimes events unfold, people react and all that water safety training comes in handy and saves a life,â Armstrong writes.
Thursday, the girls said they werenât scared, and simply acted on instinct.
âIn the moment, we werenât really thinking what to do,â said Kate.
Armstrong describes the girls as âour newest local heroes.â
âThere were plenty of adults on hand but it was these three girls that assessed the situation, jumped in and prevented what could have been a catastrophe.
âWe are extremely proud of you.â
