THE heroes behind the dramatic rescue of seven people struggling in the sea off Aberdyfi have been recognised in Parliament.

Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts raised a motion recognising the efforts of RNLI volunteers Arwel Jones, Drew Nickless and Alun Edwards for rescuing Rian Lewis Bradburn and six others on Sunday, 26 July.

Tabled on Tuesday, 1 September, Mrs Saville Roberts said: “This House welcomes the recovery and safe return home of Rian Lewis Bradburn and six others who were rescued; commends RNLI volunteers Arwel Jones, Drew Nickless and Alun Edwards for their quick response in safely returning the swimmers back to the beach; applauds healthcare staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd’s children’s ward for looking after Rian Lewis Bradburn who has now made a full recovery; and expresses sincere gratitude also to all local authority staff and volunteers who’ve worked on the frontline in difficult conditions to make Gwynedd beaches as safe as possible during an exceptionally busy summer season.”

Arwel, Drew and Alun were assisted by brothers Josh, Will and Ollie Brown when two separate groups got into trouble in the water.

Six people were taken to hospital and one had to be resuscitated after the incident.

Arwel told the Cambrian News he had been walking to the beach with wife Kate, their four-month-old son and his in-laws when the first incident occurred.

“I managed to grab a life ring and went in the water,” the 30-year-old said in July.

“I reached one lad and got him to hold the ring. Then I saw another two lads and one was going under the water, really struggling.

“The other said ‘he’s drowning’ so I told them to stay calm and float on their backs.

“One did but the other couldn’t and kept going under. He was in a bad way and going blue.”

Professional sailor Drew, 29, took the worst-affected boy and gave him CPR in the water.

Ollie, 32 and brother, Josh, 29, both assisted.

Josh said: “I went in and Drew had one casualty on his board doing CPR. I helped Arwel pull the others in. Ollie helped too.

“I was standing around when I saw more people in trouble. I ran down but my other brother Will, Ollie, Drew and Alun managed to get them quickly to shore.”

Sarah Lewis, mother of 13-year-old Rian who almost drowned that day, has since thanked those involved in the rescue, saying she would be forever grateful.

Rian was unconscious when he was pulled from the water and was resuscitated before being flown to Ysbyty Gwynedd’s emergency department.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about what would have happened if it hadn’t been for the quick actions of the emergency services that day, I can’t thank them enough for saving my son,” Sarah said.

Rian recovered at Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Children’s Ward for a few days before returning to his home in Shrewsbury.