A DEDICATED volunteer lifesaving coach and student from Eckington has been a crowned a National Lifesaving Champion.
Rosie Forson, who has taught lifesaving since she was 14, won the 15 to 17-year-old category at the Royal Life Saving Society (RLSS) National Finals in Leeds.
The 17-year-old is a student at Pershore College, which is part of Warwickshire College Group, and is in the second year of a Level 3 Health and Social Care course.
Rosie represented South Worcester Lifesaving Club in the competition alongside her lifesaving friend Meg Clifford, also 17 and from Evesham, winning two gold medals and a bronze on their way to being crowned national champions.
The success came after winning the regional finals in September.
The competition comprised of four different elements, a dry-side emergency first aid scenario, an aquatic rescue scenario, a speed race to rescue a casualty, and a speed rope throw rescue.
There were 14 other teams in the final, with Rosie and Meg finishing top in the aquatic rescue scenario and speed rope throw rescue.
Rosie said:
“We had to wait until everyone else had finished before we found out we had won. I was so shocked but so happy when we heard the result. We wanted to do the best we could and represent the West Midlands and our club as best as we could.
“I’ve been going to the lifesaving club since I was eight and have been helping to coach since I was 14. It is all voluntary and I hope to keep doing it as long as I can.
“What I’ve learned at the club has definitely supported me in my course at college, particularly with developing first aid skills and learning how to work with people.
“My main goal is to help people and that is what I want to do after I finish my course, I’m not sure what that looks like yet but midwifery is a path I’m considering.”
Julie Mayo, tutor at Pershore College, said:
“We are all very proud of Rosie and her achievements.
“She is very modest and at times hides her talent. She didn’t actually tell us that she was winning these competitions outside of college at first!
“To win this competition is incredible and shows the type of person that she is.”
