Skip to content

RNLI praises Dudley pupil for helping save boy

RNLI/Danielle Rush Finley holding a certificate next to the lifeguard Guy PotterRNLI/Danielle Rush
Finley Hassall, 11, with the lifeguard Guy Potter, who assisted in the rescue

A primary school pupil has been recognised by the RNLI for helping to save a boy in difficulty in the sea.

Finley Hassall, 11, from Dingle Community Primary in Dudley, applied the charity's lifesaving advice while bodyboarding on holiday in Cornwall.

He recalled: "I looked around and saw waves going over this boy's head and he was splashing and struggling.

"I'd read in my RNLI magazine about how to float like a starfish so that's what I asked him to do."

Guy Potter, an RNLI lifeguard who assisted in the rescue, has been reunited with Finley, presenting him with a certificate that marks the schoolboy's actions in June.

Mr Potter said: "Finley did a fantastic job. Being able to keep a clear and calm head in situations like this is really important."

Chris Cousens, from the RNLI Water Safety team, said the "starfish" technique had "been proven to save lives".

Presentational grey line

Follow BBC West Midlands on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]