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James Cracknell rescues pair from sea in Devon James Cracknell and son Croyde in Devon sea rescue drama
(about 4 hours later)
Former Olympic rower James Cracknell and his son Croyde rescued a grandfather and grandson who were in difficulty in the sea in Devon.Former Olympic rower James Cracknell and his son Croyde rescued a grandfather and grandson who were in difficulty in the sea in Devon.
The pair, from Warwickshire, got into difficulty on Saturday before Mr Cracknell's 11-year-old son spotted them in the water and raised the alarm. Jim Greatorex and grandson Emerson Fairclough, both from Warwickshire, got into difficulty on Saturday before Mr Cracknell's 11-year-old son raised the alarm.
The rescued boy, Emerson Fairclough, said "I'm seven. I'm too young to die" as Mr Cracknell approached him in the water, his wife Beverley Turner said. Mr Cracknell's wife Beverley Turner reported that Emerson said "I'm seven. I'm too young to die" as her husband approached him in the water, .
The pair left the scene uninjured. Both grandfather and grandson left the scene uninjured.
'It's the rower' 'Hasslehoff-style'
Grandfather Jim Greatorex, 67, from Stratford-upon-Avon, had gone into the water fully clothed to help Emerson when the Cracknells spotted them. Mr Greatorex, 67, from Stratford-upon-Avon, had gone into the water fully clothed to help Emerson when the Cracknells spotted them.
Ms Turner told the Daily Mirror: "Croyde just shouted to James, 'Dad, dad, there's a boy drowning' and the lad was going under and was in a bad way at that point. Croyde said: "I was on my body board kneeling up, I saw a man struggling and saw him saying 'my grandson's in trouble'.
"James swam over to the boy while Croyde went to the older man and told him to hold onto his board." "My dad was in the water next to me so he dived into the water David Hasselhoff-style and swam under the water, picked the boy up and dragged him to shore."
The 11-year-old described in an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live how he then spotted Emerson's grandfather also struggling.
He said he paddled up to him, gave him the surfboard, then swam back and told his father, who then helped Mr Greatorex back to the beach.
Ms Turner tweeted that the granddad said "that lad on that board saved my life".Ms Turner tweeted that the granddad said "that lad on that board saved my life".
She also tweeted: "You never know how your kids will respond in a crisis ... @croydecracknell was cool, quick thinking, kind and brave."She also tweeted: "You never know how your kids will respond in a crisis ... @croydecracknell was cool, quick thinking, kind and brave."
The drama unfolded on a beach in Croyde, North Devon, near the former Olympic champion's holiday home.The drama unfolded on a beach in Croyde, North Devon, near the former Olympic champion's holiday home.
Mr Cracknell tweeted: "Eventful day with my little man on beach. Thankfully everyone safe, Good to be able to help & so proud of my lad."Mr Cracknell tweeted: "Eventful day with my little man on beach. Thankfully everyone safe, Good to be able to help & so proud of my lad."
Croyde admitted he had felt proud of himself: "It's not every day you rescue someone from drowning is it?" he said.