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 鈥� all 11 years old and members of the 鈥� were at the beach on the evening of Aug. 18 when they realized two swimmers, a young woman and a teenager, were in distress.
鈥淲e were just pier jumping, then one person asked us to help this woman to the ladder,鈥� Lily recounted. 鈥淲e had just jumped in.鈥�
As Lily towed the woman to the pier ladder 鈥� in what she described as a 鈥減retty cold, strong current鈥� 鈥� 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.
鈥淲e were getting tired,鈥� Lily told Peace Arch News. 鈥�It was cold and we were pretty far out.鈥�
Lily鈥檚 mom, Julie Cox, was among parents who saw the events unfold from the shore.
鈥淭he current was pulling (the younger swimmer),鈥� Cox said. 鈥淪he 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. That鈥檚 when the girls all circled around her.鈥�
Cox said it was clear that most people at the beach didn鈥檛 realize the potential tragedy unfolding in front of them.
鈥淚f the girls hadn鈥檛 been in the water, I don鈥檛 know how (the distressed swimmers) would鈥檝e gotten that assistance.鈥�
The three friends learned what to do in such a situation through CBSC鈥檚 junior lifeguard program, which is offered for 10- to 14-year-olds through July and August.
Georgia鈥檚 mom, Cynthia Springate said too many who visit to enjoy the waters are oblivious to its dangers.
鈥淎 lot of people don鈥檛 know how strong this current can be,鈥� she said. 鈥淚f someone鈥檚 not watching鈥︹��
Everyone should know how to swim, she said 鈥� 鈥渁nd when they should or shouldn鈥檛.鈥� The risks are just too high.
鈥淥ur kids put themselves in some peril to save people who weren鈥檛 making good decisions about water safety. People have died trying to rescue people.鈥�
In a newsletter distributed to club members Aug. 20 鈥� titled 鈥榃hen Bravery Meets Preparation鈥� 鈥� following word of the girls鈥� efforts, president Bob Armstrong also emphasizes the importance of having such skills.
鈥淪ometimes events unfold, people react and all that water safety training comes in handy and saves a life,鈥� Armstrong writes.
Thursday, the girls said they weren鈥檛 scared, and simply acted on instinct.
鈥淚n the moment, we weren鈥檛 really thinking what to do,鈥� said Kate.
Armstrong describes the girls as 鈥渙ur newest local heroes.鈥�
鈥淭here 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.
鈥淲e are extremely proud of you.鈥�
