Tributes paid to 'selfless hero' who died saving children from riptide

Tributes paid to ‘selfless hero’ Callum Osborne-Ward, who sacrificed his own life to rescue children dragged away by ferocious Dorset riptide, as rescuers find 18-year-old’s body

  • Body of Callum Osborne-Ward, 18, recovered after four-day search in Dorset
  • The teenager was swept away by strong current in Poole Harbour on Monday
  • He helped rescue a group of youngsters who were caught by fast-flowing tide 
  • But it is understood that Callum got into difficulty in the water after saving the children and was dragged away in a ferocious riptide in front of his family 
  • Tributes have poured in for the ‘selfless hero’ after his body was recovered today 

Tributes have been paid to a heroic teenager who ‘sacrificed’ himself to rescue a number of children from a ferocious riptide after his body was found.

Callum Osborne-Ward, 18, was swept away by the strong current in Poole Harbour, Dorset in front of his family moments after lifting his nieces and nephews into a rescue boat.

A group of 13 youngsters had been playing in relatively shallow water close to Black Bridge at Rockley Point in Poole Harbour, Dorset, when they were dragged away by the fast flowing tide at about 4pm on Monday, July 26.

Callum and other family members managed to recover them but he was said to have ran out of energy and was unable to reach the boat that had come to their aid.

The tragedy happened as the family, from Coventry, enjoyed the first day of their holiday at a nearby caravan park.

In a statement, Callum’s family described him as a ‘selfless hero’.

Tributes have been paid to ‘selfless hero’ Callum Osborne-Ward, 18, who sacrificed his own life to save children in Poole Harbour, Dorset

A massive air and sea search involving coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats (pictured), police divers, the coastguard helicopter, Royal Marines, local boat owners and people on jet-skis took place to find Callum

A massive air and sea search involving coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, police divers, the coastguard helicopter, Royal Marines, local boat owners and people on jet-skis took place to find Callum.

Following an exhausting four day search, his body was found at around 6.20am this morning near to Lake Pier in Poole Harbour, less than a mile from where he disappeared.

His family took to social media to pay tribute Callum while members of the public called for a memorial to him to be installed.

Callum’s brother Ryan Baker-Osborne posted: ‘It is with the hardest of hearts and disbelief that I have to say that today they found my beautiful brother and to my sadness it wasn’t the way we wanted to find him.’

The family, from Coventry, had been enjoying the first day of their holiday in a nearby camping site. Pictured: An aerial view of Rockley Park, Poole

His mother, Ann Marie Osborne, said: ‘With the hardest of hearts and disbelief that I have to say that today they found my beautiful boy and to my sadness it wasn’t the way we wanted to find him.’

His family said: ‘Callum Baker-Osborne, beloved son of Alan Baker and Ann Osborne. 

‘Devoted brother to seven brothers and sisters and loving uncle to 21 nieces and nephews.

‘Callum was the life and soul of the family, forever making us smile.

‘Our selfless hero who always put everyone’s welfare above his own.’

A massive air and sea search involving coastguard crews, RNLI lifeboats, police, the coastguard helicopter and local boat owners went out in search of Callum

The incident happened in a stretch of water in Dorset that is notorious for its rip tides

Clare Sagar posted on social media: ‘His own life gone to save others will always be remembered as a hero.’

Julie Middleton said: ‘Let’s get a memorial for Callum.’

Nicole Deborah said: ‘His actions that day were truly selfless and heroic.’

Ellie Hallmark said: ‘Devastating to hear this news this morning. Sending love to Callum’s family.

‘You cannot get more heroic than giving your own life to save others.’    

Source: Read Full Article