TWO young girls were saved from drowning at Mawgan Porth Beach on Saturday night after their screams were heard.

Members of the public raised the alarm after the youngsters became caught in a rip current and were “seconds from disaster” at about 7.15pm.

The emergency call reached Nick Bennet, the owner of the nearby Merrymoor Inn. He alerted Jeremy Griffiths, the chairman of Mawgan Porth Surf Life Saving Club, who was eating dinner in the pub at the time. He immediately ran out, borrowed someone’s board and paddled out through a rough sea, to reach the two young girls “just in time.”

Mr Griffiths managed to keep the young girls afloat in the rip current and heavy sea. Two other members of the surf life saving club, Scott Eggleton and Tom Greaves, also paddled out to assist and help keep everyone afloat until Newquay lifeboat came and took the casualties back to the harbour.

Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team and Newquay Coastguard Rescue Helicopter 924 were also scrambled to the incident.

Dan Hatfield, the treasurer of Mawgan Porth Surf Life Saving Club said: “The girls were very lucky. It was a close call. Mr Griffiths reached these two young girls just in time. They were seconds away from disaster.”

One of the girls, who was from Wadebridge, later posted on social media: “It was me and my friend drowning. Almost passed out but soon those heroes came to save us. Thank the Lord.”

A spokesperson for Newquay Coastguard Search and Rescue Team said: “We were tasked after calls came in of two casualties in difficulty at Mawgan Porth. “A member of Mawgan Porth SLSC paddled out to the casualties and was then assisted by off duty RNLI Lifeguards Newquay whilst they waited for assets to arrive on scene.

“With Newquay Coastguard Rescue Team on shore and 924 above, Newquay lifeboat picked up both casualties and took them back to safety at Newquay Harbour to be assessed by South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

“Thank you to surf club members, off duty lifeguards, members of the public and all assets for all their assistance.”