Two young boys taken aboard the Lyme Regis lifeboat

Archie Woollacott jumped off the harbour wall on the River Axe and began to be swept towards the sea. His friend, Bozhidrar Bobev – Bo – jumped in to help, but both were taken by the current some 200 metres from the river mouth.

Lyme Regis lifeboat, the Spirit of Loch Fyne, was launched at 6.20pm and was guided towards the boys by Beer coastguards. Both boys, suffering from the effects of cold water, were taken aboard the lifeboat before being winched up to the coastguard helicopter. They were then taken ashore and to hospital in Exeter for check ups. Both are now back home, Archie in Fishponds, Dorset and Bo in Seaton.

Lifeboat helm Murray Saunders says: “The Beer coastguards were a tremendous help in getting us on scene so quickly. The boys would have been in serious trouble if there had been a delay in finding them.”

Archie says: ”Bo is a really good guy for helping me. I was freezing, and my mum has now told me I can’t go out for ten years! I was really pleased to see the lifeboat crew.”

Archie’s mother, Mrs Emily Legg, says: ”We are so grateful to the lifeboat crew and, of course to Bo, who will be on our Christmas list forever.”

Bo’s mother, Daniela Georgieva, says: ”Bo was very tired after his ordeal but he is very well now. I am very grateful for the professional way in which they were rescued.”

With warm weather predicted for the next few days, the RNLI is warning that sea temperatures are still between 10-14C which is low enough to cause cold water shock. If you get into trouble in cold water, fight the instinct to panic and float on your back until you get breathing under control. For more information go to: www.respectthewater.com