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MEDIA RELEASE
Issued: August 18, 2016
PICTURE: A picture of the certificate presentation can be viewed and downloaded HERE
Commendation for Epping St John's School student who
saved drowning man
An Epping schoolboy who saved a swimmer in trouble off the Norfolk coast has received a Certificate of Commendation from the The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).
David Castleman, 14, a pupil at Epping St John’s School, was walking along the beach at Sea Palling last month while on holiday with his family when someone ran up to them saying there were people in trouble in the water.
David, who passed his RLSS UK Survive & Save gold award earlier this year, ran into the sea to help.
He said: "I could hear screaming in the distance but dismissed it as people messing around. After walking closer a man approached us and asked for a strong swimmer. I didn’t really think too much, I just took off my shirt and ran into the sea."
Reaching the stricken pair, who were both face down in the water, David turned them over, realising the younger one still showed signs of life and immediately began towing him to safety.
David said: “It was quite difficult because the water was trying to pull you out but managed to tow him to the shore.â€
Reaching land, passers-by began performing CPR on the man, and they were quickly joined by lifeguards and other emergency services before the man was airlifted to hospital.
Another member of the public rescued the second man but he was later pronounced dead.
David received his certificate from RLSS UK’s Community Drowning Prevention Co-ordinator, Aaron Dhanda, at Loughton Leisure Centre where he learnt his lifesaving skills.
RLSS UK chief executive Di Steer said: “We were so pleased to hear about David eusing the skills he learnt through the RLSS UK Survive & Save programme to save the life of a member of public on his holiday.
“Our lifesaving award programmes teach lifesaving rescue, self-rescue and survival skills to all ages, whilst developing swimming ability and fitness.
"David is a clear example as to why it is important to have water safety and lifesaving skills.â€
David’s swimming teacher from Loughton Leisure Centre, Maureen Bennett, said: “David was a candidate on my Survive & Save programme and I am really proud that he was able to use the skills he learnt to save the life of a person.
"It is so, so important to have just some basic knowledge of water safety, you never know when and where you will need to use it.â€
​Epping St John's School headteacher Allan Osborne said: "David lives out our new ESJ's motto 'Aspire Persevere Succeed'.
"He showed such courage and tenacity. We are so proud of him and I am honoured to know him.
"He is a wonderful student and now I can add the words, brave, strong and kind to describe him." ​
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