Teenager Saves Paddleboarder in Heroic Rescue at Sea
May 3, 2025
Saunton Sands, England — A remarkable story of bravery unfolds during a terrifying incident at sea.
A recent reunion in north Devon celebrated the unexpected bond formed between a paddleboarder and a young hero who swooped in to save the day.
Oscar and Gavin / Credit: Saunton Sands Surf Life Saving Club
The event took place on April 25 at Saunton Sands, where 14-year-old Oscar, a member of the Saunton Sands Surf Life Saving Club, noticed 60-year-old Gavin Bowden in perilous conditions after a strong wave struck him. Despite his youth, Oscar executed a daring rescue, which left an indelible mark on both him and Gavin.
Oscar’s swift actions ensured that Gavin was securely placed on the board, keeping him afloat while signaling for help. The teenager stayed with Gavin for a tense 30 minutes until aid arrived.
Following his discharge from the hospital, Gavin was eager to express his gratitude in person. Upon meeting Oscar, he warmly embraced him, calling him “my little hero.” To Oscar’s parents, he added, “He’s a great kid, he saved my life.”
Reflecting on the ordeal, Gavin described the frightening realization of his paralysis.
“I was totally paralysed,” he recounted. “I called ‘help, help, help’ and the little kid—I didn’t know his name was Oscar—came over and said ‘I’ve got you’.”
Oscar’s emergency training was evident throughout the incident.
Gavin noted, “He started trying to reassure me, asking me my name and about my family and whether I was married, all the stuff he’s obviously been trained to do,” adding, “They sent me a guardian angel that day.”
Oscar shared his initial trepidation, commenting, “I was quite scared at the beginning that I wouldn’t be able to lift him because he’s quite a big guy, but I just had the determination to help him.”
Detailing the rescue, Oscar said, “When I arrived Gavin was panicked and shaken. When he got his chest onto the board I went underneath him and just hauled him up, then went back around and grabbed him and pulled him up. Then I interlocked arms with him so I knew he wouldn’t go anywhere, I waved to my dad and started heading out.”
Neil Phillips, a coach from the club, commended Oscar’s actions, describing them as a “textbook rescue.”
“Oscar talked to Gavin, he protected him, he got him up on his board, he kept giving him reassurance all the time,” Phillips stated. “He wasn’t tempted to bring Gavin in through the break, which would have been a disaster with a neck injury. He was just amazing, absolutely fantastic.”
Watch the BBC Spotlight video of the reunion below:
