Gwynedd: Family thank rescuers of girl swept out to sea

A family have returned to a beach to thank rescuers who saved their 12-year-old daughter when she was swept out to sea.

Mabel and her 10-year-old sister Elsie got into difficulty off Barmouth, Gwynedd, on 3 August.

Elsie, who had learned to float "like a starfish" during swimming lessons, shouted instructions to Mabel as they were caught in a fast tide.

Their mother Milena Smith believes the advice saved Mabel's life.

"I can't believe the float advice is not taught to children everywhere," said Milena. "It's a vital skill everyone should learn as you never know when you may need it."

Her girls were playing in the sea during a family holiday away from their home in Birkenhead, Merseyside.

• Man dies after being caught in rip current

• Boy swept out to sea 'thought this was the end'

• Beach safety review after father's death

"One minute the girls, who can swim, were playing in the sea up to their waist, it seemed so lovely and calm," she said.

"Very quickly, the girls started heading further and further out and screaming loudly.

"The worst part of it, hearing screams, was in a way reassuring [because] I knew she was alive. When the screaming stopped I kind of lost it."

Elsie (right) helped her sister Mabel to survive by giving impromptu 'float to live' instructions as the pair were swept out to sea

Her husband was able to reach Elsie, but Mabel floated out of sight.

In a state of panic Milena, who is originally from Poland, called 999.

"I took the call and I could hear the panic in her voice," said Ben Hillier, the HM Coastguard officer who coordinated the rescue.

"I was talking to her for more than half an hour, keeping her calm and providing as many updates as possible," he said. "I am delighted to get the opportunity to meet the family - and Milena, a voice I came to know so well - face-to-face."

Excerpts from the 999 call Milena to HM Coastguard:

Milena: My two children are drowning, we are in Barmouth right on the pier, where it's going in and I can't see them, can't see them. My children are 10 and 12.

Ben: Are they good swimmers?

Milena: I can't see them any more!

Ben: Don't worry we'll be getting some assistance out to you now ok, my colleagues are working in the background they're getting you some assistance, ok?

Milena: My husband trying to find... them, he can't see them, I think they are way out of their depth, the second we noticed they were in trouble I phoned in.

Ben: My colleagues have taken multiple calls as well - ok - so they are aware, a lifeboat is on the way, the lifeboat will be there shortly....

Milena: Please tell me is she breathing, is she alive?

Ben: Don't worry they will be there very very shortly, they have already launched...

Milena: I think my husband and one of my children are walking back now...

Ben: How are your husband and daughter doing - are they ok?

Milena: They're fine... where's my other one?

Ben: I'm just going to pass that message on to the coastguard.... so the lifeboat has one person onboard

Milena: A guy from coastguard has walked up to us, they have got Mabel.

Ben: They have got her?

Milena: They have got my older daughter.

Mabel says her "throat was burning" from swallowing sea water as she waited to be rescued

Mabel said she was swept out "so quickly" and it was "scary" what the sea could do.

"I couldn't hear my sister either, I thought I killed her because I was the one… trying to encourage her to go further," she said.

"So I felt extremely guilty and just terrified for my own life."

Out at sea, she said she was unable to swim, instead taking her sister's advice to float on her back.

"It saved my life," she said.

Returning to Barmouth for the first time since the rescue, she said she knows to be "cautious" and now has "concern about people's welfare".

She added it was "great" to speak to the RNLI volunteers because "I didn't have much of a chance to speak to them after the rescue so it's good to say my thank-yous now."

One of the rescuers she met was Daryl James, an RNLI volunteer at Barmouth.

He said when they arrived she "had remained calm and was floating on her back with waves breaking over her".

Daryl James, an RNLI volunteer at Barmouth, said a small piece of advice helped to save Mabel

"When we found out float advice was given to Mabel by her little sister, we were all quite overwhelmed and so relieved," he added. "It's very difficult to fight the instinct to panic, but Mabel did really well in staying calm and gently floating until help arrived."

Mr James said fast-flowing tides made it "easy" to get swept out to sea at Barmouth, the scene of a number of water tragedies in the past.

"We are incredibly grateful to the family for making the trip back to Barmouth," he said. "By sharing their story, the float advice will hopefully save more lives."