by Anne Stone

Created on: April 05, 2009

It was my first holiday after my divorce and I was a nervous taking away my two children on my own.
I chose a holiday park in the UK on the south coast, there was lots of entertainment for the kids who were 9 and 10 years old at the time.
The beach was just a short walk from the park and not very crowded. My daughter, the 9 year old, asked me to buy her an inflatable ring to play with. I grabbed a deck chair and sat as close to the water's edge as I could, I was nervous about letting the kids out of my site.

Half an hour later and the kids were still playing happily in the sea. I had noticed that there were a little further away now and realised that the tide was going out, but I didn't worry. If they got further I would move nearer. I tried to relax. Then a group of teenagers came along and started messing around at the waters edge. They blocked my view of my children and I started to worry. I had all of my personal items there by my chair and had to make the decision to leave them while I got up to walk around the teenagers. Once I got through them I couldn't believe my eyes. My children had drifted way out to see. It had been a matter of two minutes since I last saw them.

Immediately I felt panicky and waded straight into the water to reach them and bring them back. The more I waded out the further they went, they were drifting much faster than I could wade. I tried to swim but I'm not a strong swimmer and didn't seem to be getting any nearer. My daughter was in the inflatable ring and my son was holding on to her. They looked terrified, but I soon I couldn't even see there faces they were so far out. I looked back towards the beach which was by now practically deserted. I waved and screamed but no-one noticed. There was no lifeguard to be seen. I have never felt so scared in my life as I floated there in the water watching my children drift away. What do I do? If I went back to shore for help they would surely be out of sight by then. If I continued to follow them would I ever catch them up. I didn't want to lose sight of them.

Then I notice a man swimming about half way between me and my children. I screamed at him to help. He turned and saw them and swam to them in no time. He pulled them back to me. It was all completely surreal as I grabbed my children close. When I looked up the man was gone and I'd not even said thank you.

I dragged my children to the shore and dried them off. I was still fully clothed and soaking wet but I was so relieved to have my children back I didn't notice. If it wasn't for that stranger I am sure that I would have lost my children forever. I still have nightmares now 11 years later.

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