Sam's Story

Mike Stevens recently contacted us after his 9 year old son Sam was airlifted. We'll let Mike tell you what happened:-

'Some friends suggested going surfing and I thought it would be a bit of fun. I like watersports and am heavily into sailing, so I have a fair idea what the sea can dish up, but it was the speed everything happened.

We went to Bantham beach on the South coast. It was a bit windy, but the sun was out, albeit a bit cloudy. Sam and I got our wetsuits on and were joined by friends Kris, Lee, Rob and Ruth.

Sam is a typical 9 year old, into watersports and who shows no fear at all. The unwritten rule between Sam and I is he always wears a life jacket or a buoyancy aid in or on the water. It was because of this Sam is here to tell the tale today and I cannot stress this more to all parents.

We went to the water's edge, whilst the rest of the gang went out to where the big surf was, varying between 4 and 6 feet. I stayed with Sam in the shallows, him with his body board and me with Lee's long board. I helped Sam to get his first wave of the day and watched him go in. We went a little deeper, not realising the tide was pushing us out towards the rocks. I helped Sam to get his next wave and got on the wave behind him. Because the long board has three fins I kept in a straight line. Sam was going fast, but heading off to the right towards the rocks, thinking when he got to the shallows he would get out. A big black cloud had come over and it started to hail. I heard Sam holler. Panic hit me as I could not see him, but heard a scream of "Daddy help me!" I then saw him going backwards away from the beach. He was only about 6 feet away from me when he screamed, but he was moving away from me very quickly, heading towards the rocks.

Sam looked like he was going backwards over the waves. I still cannot get this out of my head. I ran with my board but it got deep very quickly. I got on my board and paddled as fast as I could. I reached Sam and somehow got him on my board. As I looked around the waves were a lot bigger than me and the rocks, so I thought the best place to be was between Sam and the rocks.

The first wave hit Sam, which in turn pushed me onto the rocks - it hurt (to put it politely)! I got Sam back on the board again but another wave hit. Thankfully the next wave was a lot smaller and I was able to push Sam through the wave. Rob turned up and held onto one end of the board with me on the other.

Suddenly a huge wave broke over us, barrelling Rob. My board took off but I had the strap around my ankle meaning the board stayed with me. I eventually got Sam back on the board, and put the strap around his ankle so he had a lifeline, but we were still heading out to sea. We passed the rocks but the next wave separated me from Sam. Thankfully Rob was still with him, but they got separated when the next wave hit. By this time Lee, Ruth and Kris had come over to help, with Kris managing to raft up to Sam.

The R.N.L.I rib (rigid inflatable boat) arrived and picked up both Sam and Kris. The people who drive that boat, what can I say but brilliant, because the wave that hit next must have been a good 10 feet which nearly put the rib back on itself. How they got over that wave I don't know but when it hit me I was winded! The crew on the rib shouted and asked if I was ok and I gave them the thumbs up - they wanted to get Sam to shore as quickly as possible to get him checked over at hospital, as they were worried about secondary drowning. He was extremely cold. They then came back for me, as by this time I was exhausted and couldn't have got back to shore.

Because of the length of time in the water the Air Ambulance was called to take Sam to hospital. The new helicopter mean't I was able to accompany Sam to hospital. I cannot express in words what this meant to both of us. To be able to stay with him and the reassurance knowing he was ok made such a difference. I don't remember the journey to hospital, I was just so relieved Sam was safe.

We visited the Devon Air Ambulance base a few weeks later and met John Walker, one of the paramedics who had looked after us. We were a bit nervous but it was something we both wanted to do. Sam and I would like to say a big thank you not only to the crew who looked after both of our interests but also the R.N.L.I for all that they did.'