A mum said she could have been planning her daughter's funeral if it wasn't for volunteers at the RNLI.
Milena Smith, from Birkenhead, was enjoying a day out in Barmouth, North Wales back in August with her husband and their two daughters. Mabel, 12 and Elsie, 10, were playing in the water when they started to get into difficulty.
Milena, who has recently learned to swim, heard her daughters "screaming loudly" and they began drifting further and further out. The mum rang 999 straight away and asked for the coastguard while her husband went into the sea.
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Speaking to the ECHO, she said: "The girls were splashing about, paddling, just having an amazing time and then just in a split second from them having an amazing time we noticed they were screaming and terrified and they were fighting for their lives.
"It was such a quick change and immediately my husband just ran into the sea and tried to help them. I immediately dialled 999 and asked for the coastguard.
"It was the most terrifying moment of my life. In that split second it felt like the beach was empty and it was just me on the phone."
Milena said she couldn't see her daughters but could only hear them screaming. Younger daughter Elsie followed RNLI 'float to live' advice and told her older sister Mabel to do the same.
Elsie, 10, was able to get herself out but Mabel, 12, had drifted a quarter of a mile further out to sea on a fast outgoing tide when she was dramatically rescued. Milena said she Mabel was "semiconscious" when she was rescued by RNLI crew.
She added: "Within minutes I could see the RNLI lifeboat coming from behind the harbour going like a rocket, extremely fast and then in that moment I knew our girls will be fine. My daughter Elsie was able to get out herself by following the float and live advice because she shouted float to her sister Mabel, Mabel was saved by RNLI life crew."
Today, the RNLI crew from Barmouth who rescued the schoolgirls travelled to Hoylake RNLI Station to surprise them and deliver Christmas gifts as a thank you for supporting the charity. Milena said if it wasn't for the RNLI rescuing her daughter, the family "could have been sorting out funerals."
She said: "The second we went back to Barmouth after the rescue, I remember walking into the station and thinking or expecting medals and trophies being prepared for the crew because they are absolute heroes and put their lives at risk to save my children.
"And I was quite shocked that they were the most humble, kind and sweet guys not expecting any glory. They only need money for equipment and training.
"It was that second that I would support the RNLI anyway I can because they save lives. If it wasn't for the RNLI, our Christmas would be very different and now I cherish every moment we have together.
"Seeing the girls in the school uniforms after the rescue, it was incredible because we could have been sorting out funerals if it wasn't for the RNLI.
"I can't stop thinking they will be on call over Christmas day and night. They might be called out during Christmas dinner with the family and they will do that and all they're asking for is money for equipment and training. If anyone can donate to the RNLI, please do so.
"Seeing them was absolutely incredible and every single time I am quite shocked how kind and humble they are. To me they are superheroes and yet they are just completely normal guys who are happy to drop everything when the pager goes off and go out to the rescue when they aren't sure what it is until they get there and then go back to their normal lives."
Daryl James, one of the crew who helped save Mabel said: "Sometime a rescue stays with you for a very long time and this really is one of them. When we reached Mabel, the waves were breaking over her and she was a long way out to sea, she was in a life or death situation. To see her in her family environment today is incredibly overwhelming.
"As lifeboat crew we don’t do what we do for praise or gratitude but to see them all together planning for a family Christmas – that’s what it’s all about. It doesn’t bear thinking about how different things could have been for them had we not made it in the nick of time.
"The RNLI couldn’t rescue people without kind donations from the public which fund the kit, training and equipment we need to save others and get home safely to our families. This is why supporting the Christmas appeal is so very important."
Milena has already raised hundreds of pounds for the RNLI by walking, but is now looking forward to spreading vital safety advice on the Wirral.
The RNLI is launching its Christmas appeal, as the charity asks for help to continue its lifesaving work at sea. To make a donation to the RNLI’s Christmas Appeal visit here.
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