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Samuel’s story: ‘I had been about to die’

An aerial view of the two islands at Mumbles Head, showing a lighthouse situated on the more remote island. The Mumbles RNLI Lifeboat Station is in the background. Photo: Shutterstock.

Samuel’s story: ‘I had been about to die’

Tuesday 16 June 2026

When a holidaymaker found himself fighting a losing battle at Mumbles Head, Swansea, his hopes rested with an off-duty but eagle-eyed lifeboat volunteer.

The Mumbles RNLI Shore Crew Volunteer Bob Morgan wasn’t on call at the time his day took an unexpected turn. Casting his mind back to August 2024, he recalls: ‘It was a lovely summer’s day, and there was an ABBA tribute playing at the pier, so I stopped to watch that. I'm sitting there watching this tribute band, facing out to the two islands that we have in The Mumbles. And while I'm looking out – you're always casting your eyes round – I saw this person on the furthest of the islands. Both causeways were flooded, as the tide was in.’

The figure walked down the steps to the water. ‘I thought he was going to stop. He stood there for a few minutes – he was far from me, so it was hard to tell what he was doing – but then I saw him start to enter the water. The tide through there runs about 4 or 5 knots. He was wading and then, all of a sudden, his feet just got swept from under him. I could just see his head.’

Bob called 999 and alerted HM Coastguard – all the while, keeping his eyes on the figure in the sea. When the inevitable beeps of his crew pager sounded, Bob handed his phone to a nearby couple, so they could relay the unfolding events to the Coastguard while Bob dashed to open up the boathouse.

The exterior of The Mumbles Lifeboat Station. — The Mumbles Lifeboat Station is home to a D class inshore lifeboat, plus an all-weather Tamar class.

That figure in the water was Samuel Kassu, who’d ventured to the lighthouse at low tide, then found himself cut off. Remembering that day, Samuel says: ‘I thought the water looked about neck height, but it was higher. I decided to swim. But the more I tried to swim, the more I got pushed to the centre, and I started to get tired. I quickly remembered that if I flipped onto my back and called for help, it may buy some time for help to come.

‘I managed to float to calm myself,’ says Samuel. ‘I saw that advice on a YouTube demo by the RNLI. I remember the video explaining that the more you breathe normally, the more you’ll be like an air-filled sponge and be able to stay afloat. I wasn’t panicking because I knew what to do. I knew that I could float for as long as it took for help to come.’

‘I opened up the boathouse,’ says Bob. ‘Jack Cawsey Williams, Rhys John and Henry Best manned the inshore lifeboat and quickly launched.’

An RNLI crew aboard their D class inshore lifeboat at sea. — An RNLI D class inshore lifeboat in action.

Samuel continues: ‘For about the first 15 minutes, I wasn’t afraid. I was just focusing on my breathing and not letting my nose go into the water. After about 20 minutes though, I feared that no-one might come. It was difficult but I didn’t want to give up.

‘When the lifeboat came, they couldn’t locate me straight away because I was floating flat on my back. The boat was noisy, so it was difficult for them to hear me shouting. So it took a bit of time for them to find me. But luckily, I was wearing a bright yellow shirt.

‘The lifeboat crew lifted me out of the water onto the boat. They were really friendly. Oddly, that was when I started to panic – when they asked if I was OK or had swallowed water. That was when it sank in how serious my situation had been.’

Rescuee Samuel Kassu with RNLI Shore Crew Volunteer Bob Morgan, pictured after Samuel was rescued. — Samuel Kassu (right) with RNLI Shore Crew Volunteer Bob Morgan, who spotted him floating in the water.

They took me to the lifeboat station and gave me some nice cosy blankets. I’ve even kept one. The medics checked me over, and I was OK to leave. The trauma started when I was driving back home – I had been about to die. I couldn’t sleep that night.’

Bob reflects: ‘He was very lucky, because it was an incoming tide, so he was floating towards the bay. If the tide had been going out, he would have disappeared behind the island, so he was very fortunate.’

‘When I saw Samuel at the station, he was cold and clearly a bit shaken and shocked. Once he went into that water, he probably realised that no-one knew he was there. That must have been an awful, frightening experience.

‘I was quite emotional when I found out that Samuel was on holiday from London on his own and hadn’t told anyone where he was going. Had I not spotted him, no-one would even have known he was missing. It was such a close call. It was just lucky I spotted him and the crew found him as quickly as they did.'

‘It’s important to always check the tide times before you venture out,’ says Bob. ‘If you're unsure, seek local advice. If you do get into difficulty in the water, dial 999 and ask for the Coastguard. And remember: Float to Live.’

And what advice would Samuel give to others? ‘Don’t ignore signs – they are there for a reason. The tide is so strong, and the sea is so powerful. I want to thank the RNLI crews for being wonderful and supportive and rescuing me. They did everything they could to help me.’