Hero holidaymaker saves girl

Proud friends and family today praised the quick-thinking actions of Andrew Colledge, who risked his own life to battle strong currents and swirling waters to pull the terrified youngster to safety. The 40-year-old, of Ettingshall Park, Wolverhampton, was enjoying a family break when the dramatic scenes unfolded on Daytona Beach.

The father-of-two said today: "There was just no chance I was going to let that little girl go."

Service engineer Mr Colledge was holidaying with his children Millie, 10, and Joe, six, when he decided to take a dip in the Atlantic Ocean, leaving the youngsters with his sister Lynne Owen, brother-in-law John Owen and niece Jenna, 27.

"I was having fun diving into these massive waves and coming back up again as I'm quite strong swimmer," said Mr Colledge. "But then I went out a bit too far and the current caught me. I felt my legs going so I decided to swim back again.

"I had to put my head down and power through because the waves were getting that strong.

"As I was coming out of the water, I heard a cry for help and saw a woman holding her child."

Mr Colledge started swimming back into the dangerous currents towards the stranded pair. "I just grabbed the little girl and struggled to power myself back through the water," he added.

"The little girl was crying and it was tough trying to hold her and get out of the water with just one arm.

"The waves were relentless and it was so deep I thought 'I'm going to drown myself here' but I wouldn't let her go. I was lifting her up so she could get some air."

Lifeguards arrived in time to see Mr Colledge, of Wendover Road, emerge from the sea and hand the little girl, an American called Alison, to them.

"The lifeguards went out and got her mum and later they both came over and thanked me, which was really nice," Mr Colledge added.

Mr Colledge's sister Lynne, of Penn, noticed a commotion on the beach and turned to see lifeguards carrying the little girl and her brother walking behind them. She said today: "We're so proud of him."

Two days ago, the same sea claimed the life of a 16-year-old swimmer whose body was washed ashore on Daytona Beach, while another swimmer was rescued by lifeguards from treacherous rip currents.