TWO young Minehead cricketers on an exchange visit to New Zealand have been hailed as local heroes after helping to rescue six children from dangerous rip-tides at North Island’s popular Fitzroy Beach.

Archie Marsh, 19, and Jack Richards, 18, were on a six-month cricket exchange with players from a club in New Plymouth – an arrangement with Minehead Cricket Club which dates back to the 1980s – when a trip to the beach became a rescue drama.

Violent rip tides had recently developed on Fitzroy Beach and when Archie and Jack arrived with fellow-players from Woodleigh Cricket Club, Jesse Vertongen and Jacob Schrader, both 22, they found a group of youngsters struggling to reach the shore.

“There was a lad on a bodyboard who asked for help,” Archie said.

“Another girl was pretty bad so when I took her all the way in I ran up the beach to look for help.

“I tried to swim to the youngsters but the rip was so strong and when you put your feet down you were swept off. We all helped each other to get the children safely ashore.”

Minehead Cricket Club’s Stuart Tudball said there had been over 40 exchanges with Woodleigh Club players over the years. It was Jack’s first visit to New Zealand but Archie had been once before.

Graduates of the Richard Huish cricket academy, the pair are regular Minehead club players and will be back in March in time for the cricket season.

“Not surprisingly, the families of the rescued youngsters are very grateful to Jack and Archie,” Stuart said. “And apparently there’s talk of some sort of award.”

Jack said: “We were going to a river with Jesse and Jacob, but then decided to go to the beach instead. Thank goodness we changed our minds.”