‘I’m so thankful that RNLI lifeguards were there to save my life’
Teenager shares near death experience on World Drowning Prevention Day and encourages everyone to visit a lifeguarded beach
RNLI lifeguards saved the life of Joe Herriman, who was on holiday with his family in Cornwall when he got into trouble in the water near Harlyn Bay, Cornwall. Joe, who was 13 at the time, was on holiday with his Mum, Sarah, along with his Dad and sister. He was body boarding in the sea when he suddenly got caught up in a rip current. Watch the dramatic footage here.
Joe and Sarah were reunited with one the lifeguards, Jake Dean, who saved his life near Harlyn Bay, Cornwall, where the incident took place to mark World Drowning Prevention Day. Video and imagery available here.
Sarah Herriman, Joe’s mum said: “We’ve been on holiday to this area every year, probably for about the past 20 years. We were all having an absolutely great time, just body boarding off the waves and splashing around. The kids had been catching waves, the sun was shining, it was perfect - until Joe was there one minute and gone the next.
“I couldn’t believe that we’d gone from a picture-perfect holiday moment to not being able to see him, it felt like it happened in the blink of an eye. I truly believed Joe had drowned.”
Whilst bodyboarding, the rip current had taken Joe out to sea and far away from his family.
Joe said: “The rip current carried me really far out to sea, I felt like I was in serious danger and might end up smashing into the rocks. I was trapped in the current for about ten minutes and I just felt absolutely shattered, my legs were dead and I couldn’t move them anymore. I stayed on my bodyboard and just hoped that someone was going to come and save me.”
Jake Dean, was one of the RNLI lifeguards alerted to Joe’s situation and quickly launched the inshore rescue boat.
Jake said: “My immediate concern was that the person stuck in the rip was going to panic, try to swim against it and get exhausted quickly. It was a race again time to get there as far as I was concerned.
“The rip had carried Joe so far out to sea that it was really difficult to spot him at first, he was over 400 meters out, I’ve never seen anyone that far out on a board, it was really surreal. We could tell he was really struggling as usually people just grab the boat once they spot us, but he just didn’t have the energy.
“We managed to get him into the boat and he was absolutely exhausted, he couldn’t even talk to us. We made him comfortable and got him back to shore as quickly as possible.”
Joe and Sarah were reunited with Jake in Harlyn Bay, close to where the incident took place to mark World Drowning Prevention Day.
Joe said; “I’m so thankful to Jake and the RNLI for saving my life, I really didn’t know what was going to happen to me. I was absolutely exhausted and didn’t know what I was going to do if help didn’t arrive soon. I’m so thankful that RNLI lifeguards were there to save my life.”
Sarah said: “Seeing Joe arriving back at the shore with the lifeguards was just the most joyous moment. It was just the best feeling. I’m so thankful to the RNLI and Jake for saving his life.”
Ross MacLeod, Water Safety Manager said: “On World Drowning Prevention Day, this story is an excellent example of how seemingly small decisions, like staying between the flags at a lifeguarded beach, can make a huge lifesaving difference. We know the coast is going to be incredibly busy over the summer holidays and we want everyone to enjoy their time but to also remember our vital safety advice.
“Choose a lifeguarded beach and swim or bodyboard between the red and yellow flags. If you get into trouble in the water, Float to Live; tilt your head back with ears submerged and try to relax and control your breathing. Use your hands to help you stay afloat and then call for help or swim to safety if you can. It's OK if your legs sink, we all float differently. In a coastal emergency, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.”
RNLI lifeguards will be patrolling around 245 beaches this summer to offer advice on how to stay safe and they are also there to help anyone who gets into trouble.
Figures released by the RNLI show that lifeguards attended 14,213 incidents and saved 86 lives across the country last year.1
236 people accidentally died in water related fatalities in 2023, ten more than in 2022 but in line with the five year average. Of the 236 accidental fatalities in the UK in 2023; 20 occurred in July and 21 in August, reinforcing how important it is stay safe near open water over the summer.2
A full list of RNLI lifeguarded beaches can be found here
Visit RNLI.org/float2024 for more information.
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI is the charity that saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,700 lives.
Learn more about the RNLI
For more information please visit the RNLI website or Facebook, TikTok and YouTube. News releases, videos and photos are available on the News Centre.
Contacting the RNLI - public enquiries
Members of the public may contact the RNLI on 0300 300 9990 (UK) or 1800 991802 (Ireland) or by email.