Dorset: eleven-year-old helps to save young boy's life

Bertie White was on holiday in Lanzarote this summer, swimming in the hotel pool when he noticed a boy of a similar age who seemed to be in difficulty and kept going under the water.

The 11-year-old, from Blandford, sprang into action when he heard the boy shout for help, swimming over to him and asking if he needed help to which he replied yes.

Bertie put his arm under the young boy’s armpit and pulled him to the safety of the side of the pool and checked that he was okay as the young boy thanked him for helping him.

The youngster has been enrolled on a rookie lifeguard training course at Blandford Leisure Centre for around a year and managed to use the skills he learned to bring the boy to safety.

Bertie’s mum Helen Gray said: “It had all happened so quickly, Bertie reacted on his gut instinct and his training kicked in.

“When Bertie told us about the rescue, he was very nonchalant, like it was all in a day’s work for him.

“We are very proud that he had the confidence and the presence of mind to help the child in distress and even more that his training kicked straight in to get the child to safety.”

The hotel swimming pool was about 1.7 metres deep.

After learning about his brave act, Sue Dyer, Bertie’s lifeguard instructor, reached out to the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) to inform them of his outstanding actions.

The society has recognised Bertie for his fast-thinking actions and he was  awarded with a certificate.

Sue said: “For Bertie to recognise a person in need of help, to assess the situation and then react, is really quite something. I don’t think he realises how well he’s done.”

Bertie has been taking swimming lessons with Everyone Active since he was four years old and decided he wanted to enrol on a lifeguarding course about a year ago.

The RLSS UK are charity with the aim of educating people on safety in and around the water, with a number of exciting awards and programmes to suit all ages and abilities.