Joe Herriman Shares His Story on World Drowning Prevention Day

Photo: Sarah and Joe Herriman are reunited with Jake, the lifeguard that saved Joe Credit: RNLI

Today, on World Drowning Prevention Day, the RNLI is urging everyone to visit lifeguarded beaches and swim between the red and yellow flags to ensure their safety. This reminder comes after the life-saving efforts of RNLI lifeguards in Cornwall saved Joe Herriman, a teenager who found himself in a life-threatening situation last summer.

Joe, 13 at the time, was enjoying a holiday with his family near Harlyn Bay, Cornwall, when he got caught in a rip current while bodyboarding. The incident quickly turned a perfect day at the beach into a terrifying ordeal.

A Perfect Day Turns Perilous

Joe was on holiday with his mum, Sarah, dad, and sister, enjoying the waves on a sunny day. Sarah recounted the moment, saying, “We’ve been on holiday to this area every year, probably for about the past 20 years. The kids had been catching waves, the sun was shining, it was perfect – until Joe was there one minute and gone the next.”

While bodyboarding, Joe was swept far out to sea by a powerful rip current, disappearing from sight in an instant. “I couldn’t believe that we’d gone from a picture-perfect holiday moment to not being able to see him, it felt like it happened in the blink of an eye. I truly believed Joe had drowned,” Sarah said.

Photo: Sarah and Joe Herriman are reunited with Jake, the lifeguard that saved Joe Credit: RNLI

The Lifesaving Effort

Joe described the harrowing experience of being carried away by the current: “The rip current carried me really far out to sea, I felt like I was in serious danger and might end up smashing into the rocks. I was trapped in the current for about ten minutes and I just felt absolutely shattered, my legs were dead and I couldn’t move them anymore. I stayed on my bodyboard and just hoped that someone was going to come and save me.”

RNLI lifeguard Jake Dean was one of the first to respond, quickly launching the inshore rescue boat. Jake explained, “My immediate concern was that the person stuck in the rip was going to panic, try to swim against it and get exhausted quickly. It was a race against time to get there as far as I was concerned.”

Jake and his team found Joe over 400 meters out to sea, struggling to stay afloat. “We could tell he was really struggling as usually people just grab the boat once they spot us, but he just didn’t have the energy,” Jake said. They managed to get Joe into the boat and back to shore safely, where he was reunited with his relieved family.

A Grateful Reunion

Joe and Sarah recently reunited with Jake at Harlyn Bay to mark World Drowning Prevention Day. Reflecting on the incident, Joe expressed his gratitude: “I’m so thankful to Jake and the RNLI for saving my life, I really didn’t know what was going to happen to me. I was absolutely exhausted and didn’t know what I was going to do if help didn’t arrive soon.”

Sarah added, “Seeing Joe arriving back at the shore with the lifeguards was just the most joyous moment. It was just the best feeling. I’m so thankful to the RNLI and Jake for saving his life.”

The Importance of Water Safety

Ross MacLeod, Water Safety Manager, emphasized the significance of Joe’s story. “On World Drowning Prevention Day, this story is an excellent example of how seemingly small decisions, like staying between the flags at a lifeguarded beach, can make a huge lifesaving difference. We know the coast is going to be incredibly busy over the summer holidays and we want everyone to enjoy their time but to also remember our vital safety advice.”

Last year, RNLI lifeguards attended 14,213 incidents and saved 86 lives across the UK. With 236 accidental water-related fatalities in 2023, including 20 in July and 21 in August, the RNLI’s message is clear: always choose a lifeguarded beach and follow safety guidelines.

For more information on how to stay safe at the beach visit RNLI.org/float2024.

A full list of RNLI lifeguarded beaches can be found here

Photo: Sarah and Joe Herriman are reunited with Jake, the lifeguard that saved Joe Credit: RNLI