News, views and top stories in your inbox. Don't miss our must-read newsletter Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A schoolboy was hailed a hero after he pulled an unconscious girl from the sea using skills he had learned from his lifeboat crewman dad.

Richie Payne, 11, dashed into the water to help the 10-year-old after she suffered an epileptic fit while snorkelling.

He was on the beach near his home at Mousehole Harbour, in Cornwall, when he spotted the girl in difficulties.

Richie, whose dad is a volunteer crewman on the Penlee lifeboat, said: “I saw this girl shouting ‘help’, so I swam over and I lifted her up and said, ‘take the mask off.’

"But once I managed to get it over her nose, she started foaming out of the mouth.”

Richie then spotted a friend of his grandfather in a fishing boat and shouted over to him for assistance.

He said: “We pulled the girl up on to the boat, and then I went and got some towels to wrap around her.

“We waited for a bit and then the paramedic came and the RNLI and the coastguard and police.”

The girl was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital, in Truro, where her condition was said to be improving yesterday.

Richie’s mum Julie said: “His quick thinking was incredible.”