A HERO teenager saved his friend from drowning off Southbourne beach.

Francis Welsh, 13, heard the gurgling cries for help after Callum Farrell, 11, was washed off a bodyboard by a powerful wave.

Francis swam over and dragged Callum to a groyne so they could cling on for safety and drag themselves to the beach.

Callum, who swallowed “a lot of water”, said: “I can swim quite well, but a massive wave knocked me off and underwater.

“I was scared and I couldn’t get my feet on the ground. I was very panicked and I kept going under the waves, they kept dragging me under.

“I shouted ‘Francis’ and I think he saved my life. If it wasn’t for Francis, I wouldn’t have survived.”

The children were part of a group of five playing on the beach and in the sea. They were in the water towards the end of a groyne, near the Cliff Lift at around 3.30pm on Wednesday.

Francis, who had an inflatable ring, said: “At first I started to go and get help from the beach, but then I looked back and Callum was underwater, so swam back.

“I grabbed his shirt and pulled him. I wasn’t really scared. It was like a choice in one moment. I am a bit of a rubbish swimmer, but I was keeping one hand on the inflatable.

“Another wave came in and I went flying over the groyne. I have got scrapes to my leg, head and chest. Now I feel proud, but a bit shocked. I didn’t know what to do at the time.”

Mum Helen Farrell, 40, holidaying from Higham Ferrers in Northamptonshire, and visiting friends, didn’t know about the drama until the boys walked back on to the sand.

She said: “It took a little while to sink in. I keep thinking ‘what if’, like what if Callum was not wearing a rash vest, so there was nothing to grab on to.

“I am completely, absolutely, in awe of what Francis did, and I cannot thank him enough.”

As a special treat, the boys were taken to watch Ice Age 4 and for a meal at Days restaurant. Callum also bought his lifesaver art pencils and a chocolate bar.