Teenager, 17, is hailed a hero for diving into the sea to save 13-year-old boy who had been 'egged on' by friends to jump 10ft into the water off a pier
A 17-year-old has been hailed a hero after he jumped into the sea to save a 13-year-old boy from drowning in strong currents when he was peer-pressured into jumping off a pier.
Brave Marlee Elliott sprinted into the sea to rescue youngster Reggie Jones - who was a stranger to him - when he heard him shouting as he struggled to stay afloat.
Reggie had been 'egged on' by his friends to jump 10ft into the water from a pier - despite not having experience swimming in the sea.
He jumped from the pier in Southsea, Portsmouth, Hants, into strong waves.
Others watched in disbelief as Marlee ran to the shoreline and swam around 200 yards out to Reggie and held him above the water while they waited for emergency services.
The lifeboat arrived shortly after and dragged the pair out of the water, before the 13-year-old was taken to hospital in Portsmouth.
He had been coughing up water and the paramedics said he was just two minutes away from drowning.
He was in hospital for two days due to problems with his kidneys.
The older teenager spent two hours in the ambulance after the incident at around 6pm and it was found that his body temperature had dropped to 31 degrees - four degrees below the barrier for hypothermia.
A GoFundMe campaign has now been set up by Reggie's stepdad, Jay Ayling, 33, to reward Marlee's selfless act with a brand new motorbike.
Reggie, from Portsmouth, said: 'I was with a group of four school mates from Year Nine. We were messing about on the pier and then I jumped off in the sea not knowing that it was a riptide.
'When I was in the water I just gave up and I thought that was it and that was pretty scary. It was probably about 10 feet down and I've never done anything like that before.
'It wasn't cold when I jumped in but it got colder. I don't remember much of what happened until I was pulled out by the lifeboat.
'To be honest there was a lot of shouting but I don't think my friends were doing much to help. None of them jumped in even though I wasn't too far from the pier.
'I am extremely grateful to Marlee for what he did as I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. I can't say that I'll be jumping into the sea again any time soon.'
Marlee added: 'I was at a party on the beach front with a group of around eight friends. We had been there for about two hours.
'I know he jumped off the pier and despite there being lots of people on the beach no one was looking like they were going to save him.
'I wouldn't say I'm a massively confident sea swimmer but I was the best out of our group. It really was a fight or flight moment.
'I was with him for at least five minutes before the lifeboat came and dragged us out.
'I sat in the ambulance for about two hours to warm up before going home. I feel fine now.
'I am not one for boasting but I am proud of what I did. I know that it might not be what you're supposed to do but I think I would do it again in the same situation.'
Reggie's step-father Mr Ayling said: 'I think Reggie knows he was being a bit of a douche and won't be doing it again anytime soon.
'His friends were egging him on and so he did it but he just ran out of puff and it was only because of what Marlee did that he is still here. I can't thank him enough.
'I think the incident scared the life out of Reggie. He said in hospital that he didn't want to die.
'I believe that people that do heroic things deserve to be recognised so I set up the fundraiser to help him get his motorbike as he has earned it.
'I also hope it spreads a message and sets a benchmark in the community.'
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