Teenage heroes hailed for sea rescue
Published: July 14, 2006
The youngest lifeboat helmswoman in Britain is today a heroine.
Ella Du Breuil was on a routine training exercise when the skills she has been honing since becoming the UK’s youngest ever lifeboat boss were dramatically called into service.
The 19-year-old was on hand when coastguards alerted the RNLI to the plight of two men trapped near Nash Point Lighthouse, near Llanwit Major, on Wednesday evening.
Ella, a former student at Atlantic College, St Donats, was leading a team of six students in the college’s boat when they received the call.
Dean Webster and Adrian Hoare, of Rhondda, had been left stranded in the sea after being cut off at high tide in one the most dangerous parts of the Bristol Channel.
The waters were too rocky for the boat to safely navigate so brave Ella, the youngest person ever to qualify as a lifeboat helmswoman at 18, leapt into the sea.
Despite thinking she had dislocated her shoulder on the treacherous rocks, she led the successful rescue on Wednesday at 6.30pm.
Working with fellow former student Alex Evans, also 19, they brought the two men back safely with lifejackets and a line.
Ella said: ‘I am proud to be the youngest person ever to take the helm but I don’t think about that when I am out in the boat. As I was swimming towards the two men I was bashed against the rocks and I injured my shoulder.
‘It felt like it had popped out, but I didn’t really think about it at the time because I was so focused on getting the men to safety and I was running on adrenalin.
‘One of them said he couldn’t swim and was in a bit of distress, so I took him back to the boat first.’
Alex, who also studied the Baccalaureate at the college where the lifeboat team is based, said: ‘After Ella got back to the boat with the first man I went in.
‘I injured my shoulder in exactly the same way as she did, but I realised that I had to help get the men to safety. It was very dramatic but very satisfying. It all happened so quick. Even though she is the youngest person to take the helm I am actually younger than her.
‘But age doesn’t matter when you have to save people.’
Paul Dowling, lifeboat co-ordinator at the St Donats college, said: ‘This rescue was a great success and both men were hugely thankful to be returned to their car.’
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