The view of the rocky beach was spectacular, and I found myself almost frozen in the moment until I was quickly snapped out of it by the great crash of the waves hitting the shore. I dressed into my trunks and dipped my feet into the water. It was warm and perfect for relaxing in. I couldn't wait to get in, so I rushed over to my Dad and snatched the lilo before he could finish blowing it up. I jumped straight in. My dog Poppy was already out enjoying himself.
The sight of the pier was lovely to see from water, and on my left was the old collapsed pier which reminded me of a skeleton and made me feel slightly uneasy. I tilted my head back. Poppy was getting out quite far, so I called his name. He turned to look at me, but even when he was facing me, he was still drifting out. The sudden thought that came into my mind was that he was being pulled out by a current. The sight filled me with panic and I could feel my heart starting to beat faster. The only thing I could think of was to save my dog from drowning, so I balanced myself over the lilo and paddled as fast as I could towards him. I briefly looked back at the shore. I couldn't tell my Mum and Dad from the other people there. They all looked like dots to me. I turned back around to face Poppy. As my face turned, a wave kicked it back and I felt myself tumbling as if I was inside a washing machine. The sharp stones on the seabed ripped through my skin. It felt like I was rubbing my back on a rough brick wall. The seawater was overpowering my nose and it felt as if my head was filled with liquid. I came through and out of the wave like a knife through butter, and I felt a slight shock come over me. My back was stinging like laying on a bed of needles and my lilo was back at the shore. The wave had taken it in, but I was still out.
I could still see my dog which gave me hope that I could rescue him. Spluttering and floundering, I was pulled by a force towards him. I reached my fingers out and grabbed his collar, pointing him towards the shore. As I looked at the shore I shouted for help, and I could see one of the dots running to a lifeguard point. I thought it was just a matter of holding on and waiting for a rescue, but the current pushing, kept me feeling distanced from safety. I shouted again as I started to cry. I heard a distant loudspeaker and I could faintly hear the words, "Remain calm." I closed my eyes and clutched my dog closer to me. I thought that now at last, this nightmare, which seemed like an eternity, was over. The sound of the rescue dinghy was like my Dad's lawnmower. We were both dragged onto the dinghy. I was so tired and my dog was too. One of the men on the dinghy asked me who I was, and if I was feeling okay. I just replied, "Ryan and Poppy. My back is stinging, and my parents are to the left of the new pier."
Suddenly a burst of energy came out of the drifting dinghy and soon we reached the shore. I was so relieved and Poppy just jumped out of the dinghy and ran straight back over to my parents as if nothing had happened. I stayed in the dinghy, lying on my front. I was too tired. My parents came over and Mum was crying. She said, "I thought I was going to lose you. You're a fighter though and we knew you would make it through." As I looked up and saw my loving family, the brave lifeguards and of course, Poppy I realised in that moment how lucky I was, and I liked being alive.
By Christopher Oswald
