Surfers saved teenagers' lives

The pair clambered down a dangerous cliff before plunging into the sea to launch their successful rescue.

Jason Price, 15, and his 14-year-old cousin Samantha McMullan, from Richhill, set out on their bodyboards on Saturday morning, October 9 on the relatively calm waters at Portballintrae.

However, their fun soon turned to terror as rising waves forced them closer and closer to dangerous rocks.

With Jason and Samantha's distraught parents watching helplessly from the beach, the pair were miraculously scooped from the swirling sea by two passing surfers who were alerted to the emergency.

The teenagers were then brought to safety by the surfers.

"We just want to say thank you to the surfers," said Jason.

"Without them, we wouldn't be here - they definitely saved our lives.

"It all happened so fast that we didn't have time to think about what was happening. We were in a state of panic, it was very frightening."

Samantha added: "I banged my head off the rocks, we were in real trouble, but the surfers really knew what they doing.

"A woman who was walking her dog raised the alarm, so we would also like to thank her as well."

Jason's mother, Irene, could only look on from the beach as the near-tragedy unfolded.

"As parents, it was very distressing to watch Jason and Samantha struggling.

"We couldn't hear their screams for help, but we knew it was very serious," she said.

"These surfers saved their lives and what is really remarkable is that these two fellas just went on about their business with their surfing."

The cousins were left badly shaken with minor bruises.

The family say they are desperate to make contact with the two mystery heroes to express their gratitude.

"What they did was truly amazing and they didn't even look for a thank-you," Irene added.

"We don't know anything about them, other than they were surfers. We would really like to meet them or get in touch with them to thank them personally.

"Hopefully they will read this and know just how much we are indebted to them."