AN ABERYSTWYTH teenager who rescued a friend from the sea has made his parents “very proud”, despite his reluctance to take praise for his actions.

Iestyn Thomas, 13, was with friends when one youngster fell off the jetty at North Beach at the end of May, and the cold temperature of the water sent the youngster into shock.

Iestyn, who is a member of the Aberystwyth Surf Lifesaving Club, sprang into action after raising the alarm and brought his friend back into shore, using his training after around six years of being a member of the lifesaving club.

He said: “We were playing around by the jetty and jumping in when someone pushed him and he went in. Three girls helped keep him afloat and I went in and got him out of the water.”

Iestyn’s mother Julie only found out about his bravery when she received a call from the mother of the other youngster, who has asked not to be identified.

Julie said: “Iestyn didn’t tell me anything about it and I got a phone call from the mother of the child asking if Iestyn was about. At first I thought, what’s he done now, but she said she wanted to thank him for saving her son’s life."

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