Teenage hero lifeguards praised

By Roddy Ashworth

TWO brave teenage lifeguards who saved a woman from drowning in a swimming pool have been praised by paramedics.

The 17-year-olds - James Fleming, from Clacton, and Danny Champion, from Romford - were on duty when the 48-year-old woman lost consciousness in the pool at the Orchards Holiday Park in Point Clear.

The pair pulled the woman, who was not breathing, from the pool and began administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) while an ambulance was called.

After about five minutes the woman began to breathe again unaided and when ambulance paramedics arrived they treated her for a diabetic episode.

Danny said: “I feel good about it, but shocked. It's weird, we have never done CPR before except for training, which we do every week. The training was very important.”

James added: “We did CPR for about five minutes. We got her to start breathing again.

“It shocked me afterwards, but I talked it through with Danny and basically if it wasn't for us, she wouldn't be alive. That made me feel better and quite proud.”

Paramedics, the Essex Air Ambulance, an emergency care practitioner and a first responder were sent to the holiday park at about 3.10pm on Saturday.

Aircrew paramedic, Laurie Phillipson, said: “Once out of the water, the lifeguards carried out CPR for several minutes before the woman started coming round.

“When ambulance crews arrived they found the woman was having a diabetic episode. She was treated by the ECP for her condition with drugs and oxygen. We then flew her to Colchester General Hospital for further treatment.

“We would like to pay tribute to the lifeguards at the holiday park. Their quick reactions undoubtedly saved this woman from coming to serious harm.”

roddy.ashworth@eadt.co.uk