A YOUNG boy has been hailed a hero after he saved a seven-year-old girl’s life at a holiday park in Brean.

Jack Haines, 13, was quick to pull Rosie Appleby out of a river where she became trapped underwater after a cycling accident.

The incident happened on Sunday when Rosie, who was eight the next day, was riding her bike towards a bridge at Warren Farm Holiday Centre where she was staying with her family. When she tried to brake she skidded, missed the bridge and fell into a ditch and then into the river.

One arm had become stuck beneath her bike, so using her other arm, she tried to signal for attention, despite being trapped in murky water.

It was Jack’s quick-thinking which saved her life, as he rushed to help her out of the river, keeping calm and talking to Rosie the entire time.

Both Jack and Rosie’s parents have hailed him a hero, owing Rosie’s life to his brave actions.

“Rosie is so lucky that Jack was walking past when he was,” said Rosie’s mum, Linda Appleby.

“She was cycling towards the bridge and put her brakes on, skidding where the ground had been so wet.

“She fell down into a ream which was covered in nettles and went straight under the water.

“It was only because Jack had forgotten the maggots he needed for fishing that he was walking past in that direction.

“He kept ever so calm and pulled her out of the water – she was covered in algae and mud and had to have two showers afterwards.

“I am so grateful.

“It doesn’t bear thinking about what would’ve happened if he hadn’t been there.

“He’s so brave and his parents should be immensely proud.”

Rosie and her family had been staying at the park since last Monday, on holiday from their home in Hampshire.

They bought Jack, who lives in Birmingham, a present to say thank you for what he did and the two families are going to remain in touch.

“I’m so proud of Jack and he is an absolute hero,” said Jack’s dad, John Haines.

“We just happened to be fishing on the lake at the time and he was walking back from the tent.

“He scooped her straight out of the river – she wouldn’t have got out otherwise and nobody would have seen. She was fine afterwards, just covered in dirt.

“Jack is a fantastic boy and a life-saver.”

Warren Farm Holiday Centre is now looking at what improvements they can make to the area.

Managing director Jon Harris said: “We’re very pleased that nobody was hurt in this incident and Jack was brilliant.

“Around the Somerset Levels there are a lot of unfenced areas due to the flooding issues we’ve had in the past but the water isn’t too deep.

“We’re now looking into what has happened and are keen to make any improvements that we can.”