Birmingham lifeguard helps to save 36 children in Tenby
A lifeguard from Birmingham has been hailed a hero after helping to rescue 36 children and four adults who plunged into the sea when a sandbank collapsed at Tenby in Pembrokeshire.
Jon Johnston, from Selly Oak, was first on the scene and pulled members of the group from Brynaman, Carmarthenshire, out of the cold waters.
All of the youngsters are safe and well, but RNLI coastguards said up to six lives would have been lost if Mr Johnston, together with Adam Pitman and Coral Lewis, had not reacted so quickly.
Senior lifeguard Mr Johnston, aged 21, said the drama unfolded at about 4pm on Saturday at a raised sandbank, known locally as the White Back, on Tenby South beach in west Wales, where up to four thousand people were enjoying the sunshine.
Mr Johnston had already spotted that the group of youngsters, who were on a team-building exercise with an organisation called Action Camp, were on the dangerous sandbank.
He had started driving towards them to warn them to get back to shore when disaster struck.
Mr Johnston, who works as a summer lifeguard in Pembrokeshire, said: “The people were in three different groups and were walking backwards into the surf holding hands.
“They were ankle deep in water and fully clothed. I saw them doing it and drove up to warn them using our PA system to get back to the shore.”
Before he got to them the sandbank suddenly shifted and within seconds all the group were panicking head-high in water.
He said: “I knew this was going to be a major rescue and was concerned.
