Lifeguard praised after helping holidaymaker

A HOLIDAYMAKER who feared for his eyesight after a freak accident has praised the actions of a lifeguard who came to his aid.

Father-of-three Alan Seward, from Oxford, was staying at Hoburne Holiday Park in Goodrington when his car battery exploded in his face.

He ran to the reception for help and staff called pool attendant Joe Cracknell, 25, who quickly took control of the situation and provided a sterile eye bath to relieve the discomfort.

Mr Seward said he would happily come back to the holiday park knowing there are capable members of staff like Mr Cracknell on call to help.

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He said: "I just wanted to praise him because he was incredibly comforting, helpful, willing and professional in a very difficult situation.

"He arrived very quickly and took me through the whole procedure in a way which made me feel ever so grateful.

"Joe assessed my eyes and ushered me to a more serene area. Seeing that I was in shock, he adopted a very gentle and comforting manner and went on to lead me to the pool area where he helped me rinse my eyes with sterile eye bath.

"This was particularly important because I was very worried about permanent damage to my sight. Once I had completed the flushing of my eyes with him he offered that I could come back at any point to repeat this.

"All the while he had been assessing me for a head injury with questions and observations. Having been seen with such professionalism was a reassurance to my wife as well, so when I returned to the caravan my eyes had recovered quite well and I could relay how things had been handled.

"Sometimes you just come across someone who has the skills and attitude to take hold of a situation in the very best way and on that day this was Joe.

"The reception staff were very good, too, and overall it speaks volumes for both the company and the park.

"As a practising mental health nurse of 16 years, I definitely could not have done any better myself and I am guessing that Joe is roughly half my age. I am well, with no permanent problems thanks to Joe. The car was repaired on site and the battery replaced. We will be back next year."

Joe said being a trained lifeguard meant he knew how to deal with the situation.

"First and foremost, I was just doing my job," he said. "I'm very pleased and grateful that this gentleman feels I did a good job."