A mother has described the terrifying moment her daughter slipped on a sea wall and was swept into the water by a huge wave.

Dawn Wright-Lewis was walking with her daughter Sophie and son Jamie and their stepfather Russ Lewis at Dymchurch.

It was a normal family walk along the sea wall until Sophie, 16, slipped on the steps and was then hit by a breaking wave which dragged her under the water.

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The accident happened just yards from where nine-year-old Connor McDonald tragically lost his life after he fell into the sea in October.

Dawn, 49, of Godinton Park, Ashford, said: “We were walking up ahead of Sophie and she was splashing around a bit on the top step.

“She was probably doing what I would’ve done when I was 16, just kicking around in her wellies.

“Russ and I turned to each other to say that we should keep an eye on her.

“It was as we turned round that I saw her slip. I shouted at her to get up but she didn’t. Then I could see a wave coming and it was too late. It went right over her head.

“I screamed ‘that’s my daughter’ while Russ went to try to find her. He lost his footing and went into the sea himself. We couldn’t see her and I thought she had gone.”

VIDEO: Dawn Wright-Lewis tells of the moment Sophie was swept into the sea

Coty manufacturer Russ, 39, said he was joined by dog walker Michael Johnson, 46, from Chestfield, near Whitstable, and a third man in the sea to bring Sophie to safety.

He said: “My memory is bit blurry, I can remember holding Sophie with four fingers but I wasn’t able to grab her.

“I then couldn’t see her. I just heard Dawn screaming for help, but I was in the water and didn’t know how to get out.

“Sophie was pushed back in by the waves and was clinging to the railings. It was like dead weight, I had my coat on and everything, so the three of us had to use all our strength to pull ourselves out. So you can see how difficult it would have been for Sophie. It was a total shock and panic, we all know how close we came that day.”

Sophie was brought back to the sea wall where she was slipping in and out of consciousness and had difficulty breathing.

Dawn said: “She was not responsive. Some first aiders cut her jumper off as she was not breathing. I held her and tried to use my body heat to keep her warm.

“I watched her turn blue from her nose to her lips and all across her face. When the paramedics arrived she was at Glasgow Coma Scale level three which is really low and can be fatal.”

Paramedics, police and air ambulance crews responded to the call,and Sophie was taken to the William Harvey Hospital.

She is now recovering from her ordeal after the incident, which happened on Sunday last week December 27.

Meanwhile the family and Michael Johnson have called for improved safety measures at the beach, as there were no life buoys visible from the lower part of the sea wall.

They are also seeking to find the third man who helped Sophie out of the water, a volunteer coastguard, and those at the sea wall who offered towels, blankets and a red hooded top to help keep Sophie warm.

Russ said: “We would like to thank Michael, the other man in the water and the others who helped. They did all this good when they didn’t have to.

“When Sophie and I were in the water we were going nowhere fast. If there hadn’t been people around to help then we both could have died.”

Mr Johnson said: “The sea was very rough and there were no life buoys in sight anywhere. I think it’s strange when you spend millions of pounds on sea defences, something like that should be put there.

“A life buoy would allow people standing on the promenade to pull people out of the water, or in the worst case scenario at least keep people afloat until a lifeboat arrives.

“I remembered that a little lad died in the same place. I think incidents like this do happen and this time we nearly had another tragedy.”

There are currently three life buoys in Dymchurch and signs warning visitors that the concrete can become slippery. The Environment Agency was contacted about safety measures but had not responded as we went to press.

Nine-year-old Connor McDonald, who lived in Dymchurch, had been playing on the rocks with a friend during the half term holidays on October 27 when he was swept into the sea.
The inquest into his death is set to resume later this month.