"I WOULD have been OK, I would have just floated across to Wales, Grandad," were the among first words of ten-year-old Matthew Binding who was rescued from the sea off Watchet Marina last Thursday.

Matthew escaped with just cuts and bruises after being dragged to safety by Good Samaritan Jane Trunks who risked her own life to save him.

Unbeknown to his family, Matthew had been with two other boys on the harbour steps below the town's old coastguard lookout when he swept off his feet by a freak wave.

Despite being able to swim, Matthew quickly got into difficulty in the strong swell and was unable to get back to the shore.

Coastguards were alerted and a mayday call was picked up by local boatowners, while Matthew's friends screamed and shouted for help.

Simon Cluette of Uphill Boat Services and Andrew and Jane Trunks of Watchet's POD canoe club were among the first to respond to the unfolding drama.

Mr Cluette threw a life ring towards Matthew, while Mr and Mrs Trunks went to help in the club's rigid inflatable safety boat.

But as they watched, Matthew was washed up against the rock armour and concrete walls before the tide forced him beneath his would-be rescuers' boat.

Mrs Trunks jumped into the water to save him and managed to drag him to safety - before getting into difficulties herself and being rescued by Watchet Marina manager James Burnell in the marina launch.

Matthew was taken to shore and treated for cuts and grazes to his head and for shock. Mrs Trunks was unhurt.

His grandad John Binding of Mariners Way, who is looking after Matthew during the school holidays, said he was fine despite his ordeal - although slightly more aware of the dangers posed by the sea.

Mr Binding said: "He knows he's not allowed down the harbour without a grown-up and I think he's listened to me when I've told him how lucky he was.

"I don't want to make it into a demon for him, but he's got to realise just how dangerous it could have been."

Mr Binding thanked everyone who had helped rescue his grandson and believed Mrs Trunks had saved his life but telling him not to panic and to try and float on his back in the swell.

He said he thought Matthew was literally just round the corner from home with a friend when he got a call from his son telling him Matthew was in trouble in the harbour just after 6.30pm.

He said the boys had teamed up with another lad and decided to go to the town's youth club but when they got there they did not have enough money to get in.

"He told me they went to find a friend's mum, but another lad walked off towards the East Quay and they followed him.

"Thankfully, one of the first things he was taught was how to swim but despite being quite a good swimmer he was soon in trouble.

"I would like to say a massive thank you on behalf of my family for the way the emergency services responded to my grandson's mishap.

"The harbour quay is not a playground for children. I hope that Matthew and other children will heed this. Matthew was very lucky."

Minehead RNLI, a rescue helicopter and Watchet Coastguard were all scrambled to the scene but soon stood down.

Lifeboat spokesman Mathew Thresher said: "The little boy was extremely fortunate and probably owes his life to the quick thinking boat owner and members of the public.

"I would urge people to be extra vigilant when near water and parents should supervise children at all times. This could so easily have ended in tragedy."

Watchet Coastguard member Simon Bale stressed Matthew had not been tombstoning - a dangerous practice of jumping into the sea off harbour walls - and the whole incident had been "a pure accident".

Mr Bale said: "He was swept out from the steps fully clothed outside of the harbour wall below the lookout and was unable to fight the tide and swell to get back ashore.

"The sea conditions were fairly rough with a force four wind gusting on what was a nice summer's evening.

"If it had not been for the quick intervention of Mr Cluette and Mr and Mrs Trunks then this could have proved to have been a very serious incident."