A WEST Cumbrian man who saved an 11-year-old boy from drowning in rough seas was presented with a Chief Constable’s Commendation and an award at Wokington police headquarters on Monday.

Richard Walker, 41, of Greysouthen, was on a family day out when he rescued Jason Adams, from Whitehaven, after he was washed into the sea while trying to save his younger brother. He, his wife and his two children, now aged 10 and 12, were playing in rock pools when the weather changed. As they headed back to shore a young boy ran over and said someone was drowning.

Richard and fellow rescuer, Cliff McCreadie, 37, ran to the edge of the water and started shouting. He said: ‘At first I couldn’t see anything, and then I saw this hand coming out from the waves. I thought to myself ‘it’s now or never’, and jumped in.’

The two rescuers fought through strong currents to get to Jason, who was unconscious when they reached him. Although they were not strong swimmers, the pair managed to hold Jason’s head above the waves and pull him to shallow water, where they handed him to a lifeboat crew that arrived on the scene.

Jason recovered from his critical condition but his 10-year-old brother Wayne was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital. Both rescuers sustained injuries to their legs due to the strong current pushing them against the rocks.

Receiving the award, Richard said: ‘I don’t feel heroic, I was just put in that situation and it was either do or die. I just kept thinking it could have been my kids in the water and I would hope that someone would do the same for them.’