A CHESTER schoolgirl came to the rescue of her sailing partner after they capsized and he was knocked unconscious in the water.
India Edwards, 11, from near Broxton, was sailing with 16-year-old Tom Dutton from Shropshire Sailing Club in her RS Feva at the recent National Championships at Thorpe Bay in Essex when they capsized and he received a bang to the head from the rudder.
Thankfully, Tom was quickly brought to by a wave and was able to get back on board with India’s help.
Despite him regaining consciousness, the quick-thinking youngster then realised that her helm was in no fit state to continue the race and she flagged down the race rescue boat to take them to shore.
Tom was taken to hospital but later discharged.
India, a pupil of The Queen’s School in Chester, said: “I don’t really remember fully what happened as it was all so fast. I knew that Tom couldn’t sail and the boat is too big for me to get back single-handed in the high winds so we needed the rescue boat.
“I’m used to capsizing – it is something that does happen in dinghy sailing – but it isn’t usually so dramatic!”
