Dad seeks mystery Italian who saved him and his son from drowning after they were swept off Bournemouth beach
Father who couldn't swim got into trouble trying to rescue kids
A DAD is trying to find the mystery Italian hero who saved him and his young son during a dramatic sea rescue.
James Brackenridge watched on in horror as William, seven, and his 10-year-old daughter Sophie were swept away while they played in shallow water at Bournemouth Beach.
Thirty-nine-year-old James cannot swim, but out of desperation dashed into the sea fully clothed where he found himself in trouble and fighting for his life.
Quick-thinking Sophie managed to swim to the beach to raise the alarm and a heroic Italian tourist leaped into the water to rescue the father and son.
James, a divorcee from Bracknell, is now searching for the mystery rescuer so he can thank him properly for saving his family.
His account of last Tuesday's rescue comes after six swimmers died on UK shores at the weekend.
James said: "I was sitting on the beach and keeping a close eye on Sophie and William - they were playing happily and everything seemed to be fine.
"All of a sudden there was a big wave and they were being taken out to sea.
"I can't swim but my instincts just took over and I went wading out into the water in a panic. I managed to grab hold of William's t-shirt but then I could feel myself being taken under the water.
"I was desperately trying to gasp for breath and I felt like I was drowning.
"But thankfully Sophie had made it to the beach and this Italian man swam out and rescued William, and then came back for me.
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"He is a hero. Both me and my son owe our lives to him. I was in a complete shock, I remember shaking his hand, but I'd like to speak to him properly to say thank you."
James and William both escaped the incident with cuts and bruises.
James said the anonymous rescuer was around 5ft 8ins with dark shaved hair and an athletic build. He had a bulldog called Sofia and was with his eight-year-old daughter.
Brett Shepherd, the RNLI's operations manager for lifeguards at Bournemouth, said the weekend's rough conditions were more like those usually seen in late autumn than in August.
He said: "I urge people to respect the sea and to swim between the flags.
"That doesn't only apply in the conditions we saw at the weekend.
"Even when the sea is calm you can get unexpected waves and dangerous rip currents which can catch people out. Do take the advice of the lifeguards – they will help anyone visiting the beach to do so in the safest possible way."
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