A schoolgirl saved her friend after she was swept out to sea while having multiple epileptic fits.
Tamika Hezzell, 12, has been described as a “little hero” after she hauled her pal Sofia-Ann McKenna, 14, from the water when she began having fits. Coastguard and ambulances were called to the beach after Sofia – who was at one time was unresponsive – was being battered by the waves.
Tamika pulled her to the surface and began doggy-paddling her back to shore. When they reached more shallow water, they were met by emergency services and a passing beachgoer administered CPR before both girls were taken to hospital for treatment. Sofia’s relieved mum Jade McKenna said: “If it wasn’t for Tamika getting Sofia up and out the water, by putting her on her back, she wouldn’t be with us today. When Sofia started to fit, Tamika did all she could do to keep Sofia above the water.”
It comes as The Mirror launches its ‘Save Lives for Sam’ campaign to stop the “catastrophic” deaths of 33 children who drown in England every year – “the equivalent of a classroom of children lost’.
View 6 ImagesSofia-Ann was treated in hospital after the dramatic rescue (Image: North Wales Live)
Jade added: “Tamika is my little hero – she put Sofia above herself and acted quickly. Without her and the amazing ladies who helped, my baby wouldn’t be here today. It doesn’t bear thinking about what could have happened. Since the incident I think us mums have since hugged our babies a lot tighter than ever before.”
The dramatic incident happened at Pensarn Beach in Abergele, Conwy county, North Wales, at the tail end of the heatwave. Horrified onlookers described how the girls’ “piercing screams” could be heard from the packed beach between their gasps for air. Both girls had swallowed large amounts of seawater and were taken to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwydden, for assessment.
At the time the pair were staying with friend Ruby Wilkins, 12. All three live close to each other in Abergele. Last Thursday evening the trio wandered to Pensarn’s drive-on beach. While in the water, they lost their footing after being pulled out by the tide.
View 6 ImagesHorrified onlookers described the girls’ “piercing screams” at Pensarn Beach in Abergele, Conwy county, North Wales(Image: North Wales Live)
Mum-of-three Jade said: “I wasn’t aware Sofia had gone to the beach. From what the girls said, they didn’t notice the tide coming in around them. They tried to get back to shore but the waves started throwing them under the water. By this point Sofia had started to have a fit and went under.
“Tamika got hold of her hair and pulled her back up and onto her shoulder. Ruby was trying to jump on them both and they all went under again. Eventually they managed to doggy paddle closer to shore, then started to cry for help as Sofia was unresponsive.”
On the beach, the trio were helped by a woman and her mother, who later described what happened on Facebook. Preferring to stay anonymous, the older woman said: “Their screams for help when they caught their breath were piercing and quite terrifying.
View 6 ImagesRuby was scared and crying for her two best friends after the terrifying ordeal on Thursday(Image: North Wales Live)
“As they were scrambling on each other, the panic set in quickly. It seems the rising tide took their footing away and all of a sudden they were just simply out of their depth. Shouting at them to separate, and telling them to swim and not scramble on each other, did the trick. They broke out and made the shore.”
The two women alerted the emergency services. The daughter, who is in her 50s and is a surf life saver, was advised by the ambulance service to start delivering CPR on Sofia. “Luckily she came round after her name was shouted and with a good pat to her back,” they said.
On regaining consciousness, Sofia went into shock and began fitting again, said Jade. Following on-beach treatment, she was taken to hospital with suspected water on her lungs. “She now knows why I’m always telling her to stay out of the sea,” said her mum.
All three mums were unaware of the near tragedy until being called by paramedics. Shantika Hezzell, who was at work at the time, said: “When I got that phone call, I went to pieces. The paramedic told me not to worry, Tamika was okay. But my head was all over the place, it was such a rush of emotions. I called my son Kegan, who cycled to the beach while I drove to meet them.
“The relief is unreal. I never allow her down to the beach without adult supervision. I’m incredibly nervous about open water. I’m also super proud of what (Tamika) did for Sofia. What happened was a mum’s worst nightmare and now all I want to do is cover her in bubble wrap. I’m just so thankful for the decent people who got involved and helped them out – it could have been severely tragic.”
View 6 ImagesRuby’s mum Sally was beside herself when alerted to the incident, hurrying to the beach with Jade’s partner. She found her daughter in an ambulance being treated for cuts and scratches on her legs. “Ruby told me she went under and couldn’t touch the floor,” said Sally. “She said her vision went black – she couldn’t see properly – and she went into a panic attack.”
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At hospital, doctors discounted water on Ruby’s lungs and she was discharged. Sally said: “Ruby was so frightened – she was crying and scared for herself and for her two best friends.” Tamika was discharged from hospital in the early hours of the following morning.
View 6 ImagesFor several days after the rescue, she struggled to walk, having dashed her legs on rocks in the sea. Like the others, she suffered a painfully sore throat from swallowing seawater. Sofia was allowed home later the next day. She was found to have water on her lungs and was due to return to hospital for further checks. Doctors are also investigating why she suffered fits.