Paddling to school through jellyfish for charity

A teenage girl is paddleboarding two miles to school for 10 days, to raise money for her local surf lifesaving club.

Elsie, 13, is undertaking the challenge across St Ives Bay for the Hayle Surf Life Saving Club.

The paddle takes about 40 minutes on a rescue board to Carbis Bay, before she starts her day of studying at school in St Ives.

Elsie said she started the challenge on Monday and so far has been stung by jellyfish every day except Tuesday.

Her father Andrew said: "We are just incredibly proud of her. She's really, sort of, just taken to it, getting up early, sorting herself out, and just getting on with it and then getting off to school as well."

Her mother Beverley said Elsie was "just amazing".

Elsie joined the Hayle Surf Life Saving Club when she was six and has been taking part in surf life saving competitions ever since.

Earlier this year the club started fundraising to buy a double ski at a cost of £3,800.

Nick Brown, who joined Elsie on her paddle on Thursday, had raised £2,000 to help pay for the equipment and Elsie has so far raised more than £1,500.

Fundraising also goes towards life-saving equipment and repairs to the club house.

Mr Brown, who is the captain of the club said: "Some of the seniors of the club have been taking it in turns to paddle with Elsie.

"Most of us are qualified lifeguards so she's had someone with her every day just to keep her safe."

Speaking ahead of their paddle on Thursday, he said: "It's quite rough today, quite a strong onshore wind and it was quite chilly as well and thousands of jellyfish swimming around.

"She's doing an amazing job and to come back every single day and she'll still be doing swimming in the evening.

"Really good on her, it must be quite tough."

Elsie's grandfather Gerald and her grandmother Anne were on the beach to see Elsie complete the two mile paddle.

Gerald said: "Brilliant, it's fantastic, loving every minute of it."

"And she's enjoying it too, she's really put her heart and soul into it."

Anne said: "She's amazed us actually because when she said she was going to do it I was thinking 'Oh my goodness' but she's doing it, six days to go, excellent."

Follow BBC Cornwall on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook and Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected].