Father praises emergency services after Budleigh sea drama

A FATHER who rescued his daughter from being swept out to sea at Budleigh Salterton has praised the emergency services for saving their lives.

A FATHER who rescued his daughter from being swept out to sea at Budleigh Salterton has praised the emergency services for saving their lives.

Army pilot Adam Nash last week battled through strong tides to reach his daughter, eight-year-old Kerys, when she was swept out to sea by the tide.

The pair was rescued by Exmouth RNLI after Mr Nash's sister-in-law contacted the coastguards.

Mr Nash, from Exeter, said: "I was relieved my sister-in-law is level-headed enough to have contacted the coastguards when she did.

"The response time was quick and it's great to see that the system works so well.

"We thank everyone who was involved."

The family day out in Budleigh Salterton could have ended in tragedy when Kery's foam boogie board was taken out on the tide.

When Mr Nash heard his daughter's cries for help, he stripped down to his jeans and braved the strong currents and choppy water to rescue her.

Reaching her, they both lay on the boogie board and paddled to rocks at Otterton Ledge.

The inshore lifeboat rescued the pair from the rocks and transferred them to the all-weather lifeboat.

Mr Nash said: "Kerys was on her boogie board when I realised she was in trouble.

"She is a good swimmer but she was being swept out by the force of the tide.

"I stripped down to my jeans and went in to get her. By this time she was about 100 yards from the beach.

"The water was choppy and it was windy and I managed to get her to the safety of the ledge.

"It was such a relief to get her and bring her back.

"Our visit to Budleigh was planned as a day out, but it could easily have ended in tragedy.