Last September, 11-year-old Bode Smith was surfing at Woolacombe after 6pm — after RNLI patrols had finished for the day.

While his father surfed further along the beach, Bode heard a cry for help. A holidaymaker, wearing only board shorts, had been caught in a rip current at the north end of the beach.

Using the skills he had practised just one week earlier during a club rescue scenario session, Bode paddled directly to the casualty. He calmed him, secured him onto his surfboard and paddled him safely back to shore.

The man later hugged Bode and told him he had saved his life.

Bode’s father, Jason — a Nipper coach — advised the casualty to seek medical assessment in case of water aspiration. For Bode, the rescue was instinctive. He later said the training had “just kicked in.”

In the process, Bode lost his GoPro — later replaced through community fundraising.

This was not luck. It was preparation meeting courage.

At just 11 years old, Bode Smith showed that lifesaving skills, when embedded early, truly do save lives.

He is a proud and deserving Hero of the Surf.