Players in sea rescue ordeal bounce back

Young footballers shrugged off a riptide ordeal and were all smiles as they stepped out on the pitch just three days after being swept out to sea and rescued by a lifeboat.

It was business as usual for the brave members of Trysull Tigers Under-13s squad as they played their last game of the season. Despite losing 4-1 to Howley Grange Harriers in Hurst

Green Halesowen last night, the lads from Trysull, near Wolverhampton, celebrated the end of the season with team mates and family, showing no signs of the drama that unfolded during a trip to the coast.

The group of 11 children and adults had been swimming at Woolacombe beach in North Devon were swept out to sea by three freak waves.

They were saved by the RNLI using an inshore boat after two lifeguards patrolling the beach raised the alarm.

Jill Bartlett said her husband Roger, who is club secretary, and their grandsons Tommy and Joey Black, aged 12 and 13, were among the group.

The supermarket worker, who travelled to Devon with the team, said: "I was just stunned. It is frightening to think what could have happened if the lifeboat hadn't got them in time.

"We can't thank the RNLI enough for what they did. It could have turned out very differently."

Goalkeeper Reagen Brummell, aged 12, said: "It was scary. It happened very quickly. Everybody is fine now."

Assistant manager Graham Harris, who along with his 13-year-old son Ben, was among the group swept out to sea, said the youngsters had quickly bounced back from their ordeal.

"It doesn't seem to have bothered them at all — they are very resilient," he said.

He added: "The RNLI were superb. I can't praise them enough. We are planning to hold some fundraising events for them to help say thank you. So far more than £350 has been pledged."