Helmet-camera footage from the RNLI shows volunteers rescuing cousins Kizza (12) and Subby (10) after they became trapped beneath Blackpool Pier when the tide surged in during a May 28 Eid al-Adha outing. Crews arrived within four minutes of a 999 call and pulled the boys into a lifeboat, while a crew member later helped rescue their older cousin, Ted (21). Paramedics checked the children ashore and the family praised the volunteer rescuers. The RNLI used the incident to promote its 'Find Your Float' advice and urged beachgoers to check tide times and carry a charged phone.
Helmet-Cam Footage Shows RNLI Lifeboat Rescue Two Boys Trapped Under Blackpool Pier During Surging Tide
Subby, 10, and his cousin Kizza, 12, were rescued after getting trapped underneath a pier in Blackpool, U.K. as waves crashed over themCredit: RNLI (2)
Helmet-camera footage released by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) captures the dramatic rescue of two young cousins who were trapped beneath Blackpool Pier as the tide surged over them.
Subby, 10, is rescued after getting trapped underneath a pier in Blackpool, U.K.Credit: RNLI
Fast-Moving Tide Left Children Clinging To Pier
On May 28, during an Eid al-Adha family outing, 12-year-old Kizza and 10-year-old Subby were left clinging to the pier supports after the tide came in quickly at the popular north England seaside town of Blackpool. Their 21-year-old cousin, Ted, tried to reach them and was seen hanging from the structure as waves crashed over the children.
Kizza, 12, is rescued after getting trapped underneath a pier in Blackpool, U.K.Credit: RNLI
RNLI Volunteers Arrived Within Minutes
An onlooker dialed 999 and the Coastguard requested assistance from Blackpool’s RNLI volunteers. According to the RNLI account, crews arrived on scene within four minutes. Helmet-cam footage shows lifeboat volunteers pulling the boys into a boat amid rough seas and bringing them safely back to shore, where paramedics checked them over. A crew member later helped rescue Ted.
Subby, 10, is rescued after getting trapped underneath a pier in Blackpool, U.K.Credit: RNLI
"It didn't feel real, it was like I was in some kind of helpless dream — a nightmare," Zully, Subby’s mother and Kizza’s aunt, said. "I could see my nephew hanging on... I could see the water going over his head and him gasping for air. When I saw Subby coming in on that lifeboat it was like a miracle."
Family Praises Volunteer Rescuers
Zully praised the volunteer crew for risking their time and safety to save her family, calling their actions a miracle and highlighting that many lifesavers are ordinary people with jobs and families of their own.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution volunteers rescue the boys in Blackpool, U.K.Credit: RNLI
Safety Message Ahead Of World Drowning Prevention Day
The family shared their story ahead of World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25. Chris Cousens, RNLI Water Safety Lead, used the incident to reinforce simple precautions: check tide times, carry a fully charged mobile phone or other means of calling for help, and learn how to float if you get into difficulty.
A stock photo of Blackpool, U.K.Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty
How To 'Find Your Float'
Tilt your head back so your ears are submerged, stay relaxed and try to breathe normally, and move your arms and legs to help maintain buoyancy. It is normal for legs to sink — learning to float gives you time to recover and call for help.
The RNLI stresses that vigilance around tides and basic water-safety skills can prevent many such close calls at the coast.
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