Year 9 Claires Court Students Rescue Man in Peril During DofE Expedition

Pictured: Left to right,  Claires Court students Ben D, Cole G, Harrison M, Mr. James Wragg, Head of Outdoor Education, Jake M, Felix G and  Benjamin T.

Six quick-thinking Year 9 students from Claires Court School are being hailed as heroes after their swift actions likely saved a man's life during their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) canoeing expedition yesterday.

The dramatic rescue unfolded on the second day of their DofE Bronze canoeing expedition. While paddling south of Wallingford, a team of Claires Court students, participating in their DofE challenge, heard a call for help from a capsized canoeist. The gentleman had capsized his canoe between two moored river boats and had drifted perilously beneath a raised jetty.

"The boys immediately rushed to his aid and radioed me and Mr. Campbell-Starkey to let us know," recounted Mr. Wragg, Head of Outdoor Education.

Harrison M  and  Felix G were the first on the scene, demonstrating incredible composure under pressure. In the short time it took for supervising staff member Mr. Starkey to paddle over, Harrison had already exited his boat and helped the exhausted man cling to the jetty. The boys also fashioned a makeshift stirrup using a rope, allowing the man to keep his head above water.

Upon Mr. Starkey's arrival, with Harrison's continued assistance, the man was safely pulled from the water and assessed. Mr. Starkey then provided care for the man, treating him for shock and helping him arrange for a friend to pick him up.

The rescued man, clearly shaken and cold, expressed profound gratitude to the students and Mr. Starkey. He revealed he had been in the water for 25 minutes, unable to get help, with his foot entrapped under his boat and a poorly fitting buoyancy aid offering insufficient support.

The man admitted he had feared for his life. "Luckily, our boys arrived just in time and no doubt saved his life," commented Mr. Wragg.

While Harrison and Felix were instrumental in the initial rescue, their teammates Jake M, Ben D, Ben T, and Cole G also played crucial roles, remaining with the group and effectively communicating the situation to supervising staff as they arrived.

The bravery extended beyond the immediate rescue team. Another team of paddlers, comprising Freddie C,  Ethan  N, Dexter C, Harrison S, Amelia N, Alex  B-Pr, Kim H and Tilly J, displayed exemplary behavior. They followed instructions perfectly, paddling to a safe area and looking after themselves sensibly while the rescue was underway.

All the students involved, along with the rest of the participants, successfully completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh expedition, a testament to their resilience and the values instilled by the programme. Their actions, however, stand as a remarkable example of their courage and quick thinking, truly making them local heroes. The boys were recognised for their bravery by Head of Claires Court Seniors, Mr. Steve Richards and were all awarded the “Claires Court Compass Award for Outstanding Achievement” during their school assembly.

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