Heroic 12-year-old saves young boy from drowning in selfless rescue

Bernice Matthews, who lives in Longford, visited Blackpool on Monday as part of a trip with Warrington Youth Zone.

It was on the beach that the trip became the Beamont student’s time to shine, when she noticed a young boy struggling in the water.

“My niece first saw my panic from a little further away at the top of the steps that lead down to the beach,” said Ashley Finn, Bernice’s aunt.

“It was when she was walking up that I noticed a small child drifting just behind her, struggling against the current.

“I shouted to get someone’s attention who was a little closer than me to help him out, but out of all the adults that heard, it was my niece that turned around and jumped back.”

Without a second thought for her own safety in the increasingly dangerous tide, the 12-year-old dove back in and helped pull the boy, who is believed to be around four years old, to safety.

“Already panicked about the boy, my heart was racing with worry, but no words can describe the sickening tight knot feeling of fear and anxiety in my stomach at the potential danger she was now in,” said Ashley.

When Bernice managed to pull the boy from the water, a man helped him release water he had swallowed in the struggle, and they began searching for a coastguard and his mum.

Bernice and her aunt, Ashley (Image: Supplied)

The young boy’s mum was believed to know little English but they managed to communicate to her that he needed to receive urgent medical attention.

“When we knew the boy was safe and the adrenaline started to wear off, I grabbed my niece and held onto her so tightly telling her how brave and courageous her heroic and selfless act was,” said Ashley.

“When the boy was taken in the ambulance, the coastguard came to talk to me to get the details and was able to tell me he was stable, but in those situations seconds matter, and we got to him just in time.

“I told her it was my niece that actually pulled him out, and she was shocked and once again called my niece the hero, apologising that the coastguard did not see the situation themselves.”

Despite helping save the boy’s life, Bernice modestly asked her aunt why people were calling her a hero and seemed unaware of the fact her quick actions helped keep him from harm.

“I don’t think she will ever realise just how incredible her acts were that day,” said Ashley.

“I for one, along with the rest of family, could not have been prouder of her, and have not stopped telling her and rewarding her ourselves since.”