The family of a grandfather who died while trying to rescue two girls who got into difficulty in the sea has paid tribute to a “selfless and brave” man.
Richard Guest, 74, and another member of the public went to the aid of the girls who were caught in a rip current off Tywyn, Gwynedd, west Wales.
One of the girls scrambled out unaided but Guest, a strong swimmer, held the other clear of the water until a lifeboat crew arrived. Guest had to be rescued himself and was airlifted to hospital in Aberystwyth, where he was pronounced dead.
The former bank manager from Walsall, West Midlands, was on a weekend break with his wife Margaret, 71, and they had been walking their dog on the beach when the girls got into trouble.
Ceri Donovan, Guest’s daughter, said: “We cannot imagine life without him. He was loved by so many people. Dad was brought up in Bethel, near Caernarfon, north Wales, and attended Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen [school]. He was a strong swimmer and was used to swimming on that particular part of the beach. It was just like him to do something so selfless and brave.”
The family said they understood the other man who went to the girls’ rescue was unhurt.
Guest, who was also known as Dick, had a long-standing connection with Handsworth rugby club, where he was a former player and a keen supporter.
He had worked as a bank manager and later a financial management company. He was a father of two, grandfather of four and enjoyed his allotment.
Donovan said: “He was an active man who loved the outdoors, and was at his happiest in Tywyn with his family. At the end of the day, he was a family man. He was a great father and a much-loved grandfather. We will miss him terribly.”
A statement issued by the family said: “One of the girls came out of the water unaided but the other girl was still in distress. He was about 40 yards out from the shore and was seen holding one of the girls up out of the water in his arms by the time Aberdovey coastguard arrived and managed to save the girl.”
Following the incident on Saturday afternoon, scores of tributes were posted on the Love Tywyn Facebook page, describing Guest as brave, kind and a true hero.
Gareth Guest wrote: “Unfortunately my dad (74) drowned after he’d helped save two girls who were in difficulty. Everyone has been very kind. He was that kind of person. I am going to miss him very much, as is the rest of my family.”
John Pimm wrote: “Dick Guest was one of the very special people in this world, down the rugby club he always had a word of advice, in life always a smile and in death a selfless act to help others. That’s what I consider a hero. Deepest sympathy to the Guest family xxx.”
Tywyn is popular with surfers and jet skiers. Aberdovey RNLI’s lifeboat operation manager, Dave Williams, said: “We were called at 3.47pm and were told two youngsters had been swept out to sea. There was a rip current that dragged them out to sea and they got into difficulties.
“When we arrived we found a man in the water. We did CPR and then as soon as the coastguard helicopter arrived he was transferred to hospital. A member of the public happened to be there surfing and had helped some of the people back to land. They were about 30 to 40 metres away from the shore.”
In a separate incident a 16-year-old boy and a 14-year-old girl got into trouble in the water off Harlech castle in north-west Wales and had to be rescued by the emergency services. They were taken to hospital by air ambulance.
North Wales police have issued a warning to the public to take extra care in the sea during the hot weather.
