Surfer Jack from Asda Paignton dives into the sea to rescue struggling swimmer
Experienced surfer Jack Little from our Paignton Torbay supermarket has been hailed a hero for diving into the sea to save the life of a swimmer who'd got into difficulty.
Twenty-one-year-old Jack and his uncle Richard Hewitt were out walking their dogs on Broadsands Beach in Paignton when he saw a couple of female swimmers waving for help.
Jack, who's worked at our store for three years, said: "I saw them go into the water and, as we walked the dogs, I was looking at the sea and the waves as I always do. I then saw them both waving to get attention and I knew that they were in trouble.
"I weighed up the dangers and, as I know these waters well as I surf here a lot, I decided to go in after them. I ran to my van and got my wetsuit on while my uncle called the Coastguard."
Jack, who has been surfing "since he was a nipper", swam out to the ladies who were aged in their 60s and 70s.
He said: "They swim out here most days, but on that occasion they had misjudged things as there was a riptide and they were trying to fight it. When I got to them they were both very tired and one of them was just floating on her back.
"I got my arm around her and kicked my way back to the shore. Thankfully her friend managed to swim back on her own.
"They were both freezing cold and in shock when we got to to the beach so we wrapped them up in anything we could find. They were just so thankful. It just felt good being able to help."
Jack, who was born in Paignton and lives ten minutes from the beach, said: "If we'd not been on that beach at that time though I dread to think what would have happened. We were in the right place at the right time. It only takes a few seconds to get into trouble at sea."
After they were checked over by paramedics the ladies were taken by ambulance to Torbay Hospital, but they were discharged the same day.
The lady's friend called Jack to tell him she was okay and to thank him again saying that his actions had saved her from possible tragedy.
The store's twilight section leader Paul Green, who has nominated Jack for an Asda service superstar award, said: "Jack has been very modest about the whole thing, saying anyone with his experience would have done the same, but all the store and team here – and his family – are very proud of him!
"He is a very popular and affable young man who, thankfully, is a very confident swimmer. He's also a very reliable colleague who knows his stuff."