A holidaymaker from Brighton has talked of her relief at being helped by an off duty Camborne fire fighter and RNLI lifeguards after she got into difficulties in the rough sea off St Agnes on Saturday.

Iona Steen (28) was spotted by Howard Davey (44) after she started to struggle in the surf. She had spent two hours surfing at St Agnes on Saturday afternoon but after a break, had gone back in to the water just after 5pm this time without her wet suit.

She said: "With hindsight I was very tired and I just kept being pushed under the water and I got very distressed.’

Off duty Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service fire fighter and long-time member of St Agnes Surf Lifesaving Club, Howard Davey was body boarding when he heard Iona shouting for help. At this point she was about 60 metres from the shore.

Falmouth Packet:

Howard swam to her and said he was there to help.

He said: "She was really flailing about. It was like taking a Beach Lifeguard Award exam! She jumped on top of me and I had to reassure her and encourage her to kick her legs. I protected her as several waves broke over the top of us and then RNLI lifeguard Dan Stirling joined us on a rescue board.

"It was then Iona became very limp and Dan carried her out from the water. For me it was a classic case of being in the right place at the right time.’

Iona meanwhile, says she was very relieved to see Howard. She said: "‘He took over when he reached me. I was pretty dazed but he was really great and I felt very safe. In fact everyone was brilliant and I was very impressed with the whole team from Howard to Dan and all the others who helped me, including the paramedics and hospital staff." 

Cornwall Council cabinet member for homes and communities Geoff Brown said: ‘This is an excellent example of someone using their skills and training to save a life and Howard’s prompt and decisive actions are to be commended. Working with the duty RNLI lifeguard they responded to the emergency with great professionalism and we are all delighted that Iona has made a full recovery. This incident also serves as a timely reminder of the power of the sea and the need to take care in the water at all times.’"

Dickon Berriman, RNLI Lifeguard Manager, says this was a good illustration of people looking out for each other;. It’s really important that people keep an eye on each other in the water because you never know when someone is going to start struggling. Howard was able to help Iona immediately and look after her until RNLI lifeguard Dan Stirling arrived on the scene. Clearly team work ensured she was assisted safely to shore.’ Iona was suffering from hypothermia, and with the fear of a risk of secondary drowning triggered from inhaling water, she was assisted by the RNLI lifeguard team at St Agnes before being taken to hospital by ambulance for a check-up but released later.

Howard Davey is presently based at Newquay Community Fire Station, but is usually stationed at Camborne where he has been a fire fighter for more than 20 years. His Father was a founding member of the St Agnes Surf Lifesaving Club.