A quick thinking Wilson teenager is being hailed a hero after he and his father saved a man from drowning while on a family holiday in Esperance just after Christmas.
Rhys Abernethy, a 15-year-old Cannington Leisureplex junior lifeguard club member, was swimming with family and friends when he noticed a person from the group being dragged out to sea by a rip.
Despite rough seas, Rhys and his father Trevor headed toward the man on their bodyboards.
“We got out to him in about 10 to 15 minutes after being dumped and all the rest of it,” Rhys said.
“When we got to him he was conscious and talking to us but he was starting to struggle with his breathing.
“He started kicking and holding onto the boards and stuff while we were starting to swim back in but in three minutes he started losing consciousness, letting go of the board and he stopped dead for quite a long period of time.
“Just as we got him back where we could start to stand he passed out.
“We had to get some of the other people to help when we got close enough to shore and get him up on the beach and watch him as the ambulance came and got him.”
Mr Abernethy said at some stages when he was swimming toward the man he could only see his arm.
“When I got there I tried to put him on top of the board and I had him by the shoulder because he wasn’t really hanging on,” he said.
“I was trying to hang on to him and the board and kick my legs and try and keep him on the board.
“I said to Rhys just swim like hell.
“We were getting closer but we were going forward three metres but getting dragged back two, we were stuck in this never ending circle.
“Once we got somewhere we could stand the people on shore helped us get him out.”
The man was taken to hospital after three quarters of his lungs filled up with water and his oxygen count was dangerously low.
He was in hospital for two days to recover.
Despite helping save a man’s life Rhys has stayed humble and said he just did what he had to at the time.
“It may sound stupid but you don’t really think about panicking, you just switch on to have to get there and get him and nothing else matters,” he said.
“I don’t walk around bragging about it because I don’t think there is a need to. I don’t see it as a huge deal.”
Rhys said the incident amplified his passion for lifesaving said he wanted to become a qualified lifeguard by the end of the year.
Rhys’ mother Dianne was on the beach during the incident and said while she worried for him initially she was extremely proud.
“I can’t describe how proud I am that somebody of his age had the forethought to get out there and to save someone,” she said.
City of Canning chief executive Lyn Russell commended Rhys for his quick thinking and bravery and said the junior lifeguard program was giving young people the skills to save lives.
