Lifeguard rescues two off New Brighton coast

Aug 4 2007 Liverpool Daily Post

Lifeguard Samantha Maloney, from Wirral Beach Lifeguard Services,

A WIRRAL lifeguard has been praised for her actions after the rescue of two teenage girls who had got into difficulties at New Brighton.

The two Liverpool girls, aged 14 and 16, were swimming off the groyne near to the lighthouse at Fort Perch Rock at 1.30pm yesterday.

Lifeguard Samantha Maloney, 21, from New Brighton, was alerted and dragged the pair to safety as they panicked.

She said: “I was on patrol and I saw two girls in the water. I pre-warned them not to go too far.

“They were by the groyne and they were grabbing hold of my neck. I shouted for them to get off me because they would have drowned me. I was pushing one and pulling the other. I just tried to get them to the shore as quick as I could.”

She added: “It felt like hours but was 10 minutes. I was relaxed and remained calm. The groyne was completely submerged in water. They would have drowned so it was a good job that I was watching them. I started the job in March and it was my first rescue.”

Chief Lifeguard Tony Jones said: “Our lifeguards are there to make sure people can enjoy the beach and the water safely.

“However, it seems as though these two young girls didn’t listen to the advice they were given by the lifeguard.”