Hero Schoolboy Bravely Jumps Off Pier Into Sea To Save Toddler

A schoolboy has been hailed a hero after jumping into the sea from a pier to rescue a toddler, who he spotted floating 30 yards off shore.

Brave Eli Harrison, 11, was with his family at the seaside on Friday 7 August when they spotted a small child in the wateroff the coast of Staithes, North Yorkshire.

Before his parents Kayleigh and Ian even know what was happening, Eli had leapt into the sea to help the toddler.

Mum Kayleigh said Eli was already in the water before Ian had a chance to take his bag off.

Kayleigh said: "We'd gone down to the beach for the day and as we were walking along my husband saw the little boy in the water, but before he'd managed to take his bag off Eli had ran and jumped off the pier into the water."

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Eli jumped from the pier and made his way round small fishing boats to get to the child.

Kayleigh, who works as a healthcare assistant, continued: "As he swam back he had one arm round his tummy and you could see water coming out the bairn's mouth, it was bad."

The toddler had managed to get into the sea without his parents noticing, and was holding onto a small fishing net.

"They were packing up, they'd turned their back for just a split second but that's all it takes," Kayleigh said.

The toddler had swallowed some water when the Harrison family spotted him floating in the water, but thankfully he made a full recovery.

Kayleigh added: "The mother carried him off down the beach but Eli needed to check he was OK."

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The toddler's mother was so grateful for Eli's bravery, she gave him £10 as a token of her appreciation.

Proud mum Kayleigh said of her son: "He saved his life, it's mental. He just said he did what anyone else would have done, he doesn't realise how good it is."

While Kayleigh is originally from Whitby, her three children - 12-year-old Billy, 11-year-old Eli and nine-year-old Gypsie-Rose - have all grown up in Staithes, and are used to living by the sea.

Eli is a particularly strong swimmer and has no fear of the water, having previously won certificates and awards.

He even has hopes of volunteering with the lifeboat crew when he's older, as other family members have done.

Kayleigh added: "Other kids are only used to swimming in a pool, but Eli can tell you about the currents and the tides."

Topics: UK News, News

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

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