Three young lifeguards saved a baby's life when she was blown into a swimming pool in her pushchair by a a sudden gust of wind.
Ellie Dickerson Weedy, 20, her boyfriend Jacob Screeton, 20, and her younger sister Issy Dickerson Weedy, 18, leaped into action while on a relaxing break in the Bodrum area of Turkey. They were sunbathing at the Paloma Family Hotel in Bitez when they heard a loud splash and saw a pushchair in the pool.
They quickly realised there was a baby girl strapped into the pushchair and all three of them dived into the pool to save her. Jacob got the pushchair out of the pool with the help of another person and Ellie and Issy made sure the toddler was breathing.
The baby, who was under the age of two, was brought to safety on June 22 as a result of their efforts. She was checked over by a hospital doctor and has since made a recovery.
Ellie, from Blyth, Northumberland, said: "We were with our dad in Turkey on a two week relaxing vacation. We hadn't been away since before the lockdown. One day we had a lazy day by the pool. We just suddenly heard this giant splash so we looked over - it was a big noise and it wasn't a large pool.
"We saw a pushchair in the water. We knew straight away the baby was in the pushchair as the parents were shouting 'our little girl'. The three of us dived into the pool and swam across the pool as we were at the other side.
"Jacob helped another gentleman get the pushchair out. Jacob lifted it from in the pool and we leaned over and got it from the top. Me and my sister made sure she was breathing and we got her out of the pushchair.
"We went with the local first aid to check she was ok. The hotel got the local hospital to send the doctor out in the ambulance because she was so little. Her parents were in shock so we checked they were ok as well. They were there for a wedding I believe so there was quite a big group and lots of small children."
Ellie said they found out, after carrying out the rescue, that the wind had caused the accident at their hotel. She said: "It was nobody's fault. The brakes were on and she was strapped in. The push chair was behind some sun loungers.
"The poolside was so slippery and when the wind blew the pushchair skidded across the water. The wind just blew the pushchair in. Her mam and her auntie said that by the time they tried to get up it was in the water. It was just one of those freak accidents and we were very lucky to have been there and been able to help."
Ellie and Issy are both pool and beach lifeguards, lifesaving Trainer Assessors and members of Blyth Lifeguard and Swimming Club. Ellie studies Psychology at Northumbria University in Newcastle while Issy, who has just completed her A Levels, plans to study Interior Design at York St John University in York.
Jacob, who is from Retford, Nottinghamshire, is also a pool and beach lifeguard. He is a member of both Blyth Lifeguard and Swimming Club and Ripley Rascals Swimming Club. Jacob is also studying Aerospace Engineering at Swansea University.
Ellie said: ""The family couldn't thank us enough. A lot of other holidaymakers were thanking us. One lady said 'If you hadn't been there it could have been a different story'. That really put it into perspective.
"We are all pool and beach life guards so having the skills we have really helped. You don't think about what you're doing. Your instinct is just to get in and go and that's what the three of us did. Our training has been put into practice before but not in a scenario like it was on holiday.
"When you go to work as a lifeguard your brain's in that mode. You don't expect it while on holiday. I guess it shows us that you never really switch off."
The Royal Life Saving Society UK has awarded Ellie, Issy and Jacob with certificates for their rescue efforts. Ellie added: "It has been lovely to be recognised and the swimming club has recognised us as well. It's been really, really nice to have that but it's more important to spread the word and make people aware of the fact these things can happen."
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