A mum is urging parents to be vigilant on the coast this summer, after a family visit to Blackpool almost ended in tragedy. Mum-of-four Zully, who lives in Leeds, shared her traumatic experience of almost losing her son and nephew ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day this weekend.
Family cut off by tide
Zully had visited Blackpool during the May half-term with her extended family to celebrate Eid al-Adha on May 28. While on the beach, some of her family members became cut off by the tide. Her son, Zubby, 10, and 12-year-old nephew, Kizza, found themselves in trouble next to a pier, clinging to its stanchions as waves crashed around them.
Zully desperately waded out to the boys but feared the worst as she watched Subby’s head disappear beneath the waves.
Desperate moments
"The tide started to come in quickly and I could see the boys in the distance," said Zully. "They were stuck and the water was rising rapidly. A wave whacked me and hit me on the side. Ted turned to me and said: ‘Zully, get out, they’re too far out’. I couldn’t go back, as I knew if my son heard my voice, he’d hang on to the pier. I knew he’d cling on if he could hear my voice telling him not to let go, but by now the water was rising fast and I could see him going under."
Zully adds: ‘It didn’t feel real, it was like I was in some kind of helpless dream – a nightmare. I could see my nephew hanging on, but I could see the fear in his eyes. I could see my boy submerged next to the poles of the pier. I scrambled along the pole and was shouting desperately to him, but I just couldn’t get to him. The police came and took me out of the water. I was screaming “I can’t get to him - that’s my son and my small nephew. I was shouting at the top of my voice - we need the orange boat. At this point the boys had been hanging on for 40 minutes. I could see the water going over his head and him gasping for air, but I was struggling to see if he’d come back up again."
RNLI rescue
A 999 call was made by a member of the public, with the Coastguard requesting the launch of the Blackpool RNLI lifeboat. The volunteer crew were paged for the 11th time in seven days, the RNLI said. Following the call, the RNLI said a D-class inshore lifeboat was on scene within four minutes. They immediately spotted Subby and Kizza, and the lifeboat manoeuvred alongside the pier stanchions to allow the crew to safely pull the children aboard.
The RNLI said Zully's older son, Ted, 21, a carer from Bradford, was found higher up the pier supports. With a second crew on scene in the Atlantic 85 RNLI lifeboat now, the D-class crew made the decision out of urgency to deliver the children to paramedics waiting on the shoreline by South Pier, and for the Atlantic 85 to rescue Ted.
Zully adds: "When I saw Subby coming in on that lifeboat and being carried away, it was like a miracle. I thought he’d gone. He survived because of these people who are volunteers. It was like a dream come true. I’m a single mum and I do my best for them. I was beating myself up thinking what more could I have done. I’d checked the tide but never expected things to happen so quickly."
Water safety advice
Chris Cousens, RNLI Water Safety Lead said: "We are incredibly grateful to Zully and her family for their courage in speaking up about their experience to ensure others are mindful of the risks. Nobody visits the coast expecting to get into difficulty. We’re urging families to check the tide times before you go. If you can’t understand the information on tide tables, ask people who know the area and pay attention to any safety signs. Always carry a means of calling for help, like a fully charged mobile phone. If you do get into difficulty, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard."
"Instinctively, most people who find themselves struggling in the water will begin to panic, swim, or thrash about. We’re urging people to ignore this instinct and remember to float: Tilt your head back, with your ears submerged. Relax and try to breathe normally. Move your hands and legs to help you stay afloat if you need to. It’s fine if your legs sink – we all float differently. By doing this, you give yourself the chance to rest and recover your breathing. Once you’ve regained control of your breathing, you can call for help or swim to safety."
Zully adds: ‘The sea can be evil, it doesn’t care who you are it just takes you. I keep my son so close now, it’s shaken us all. This happened to the people I love and it could so easily happen to other families too. I have been reliving that moment and keep seeing the people in that orange boat and the marvellous care they gave doing exactly what they are trained to do. They just want to save people for no rewards and that’s just amazing. Without the RNLI, I would have lost him. My first boy. I’d have never forgiven myself. Not only that I was the one in charge of the other children. I could never have carried the guilt of going on if it would have been another outcome. The guilt would have eaten me."
