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'Selfless' Grandad Died Trying To Save Swimmers

'Selfless' Grandad Died Trying To Save Swimmers

Tributes have been paid to a "selfless and brave" grandfather who died after trying to rescue two teenage girls who got into difficulty swimming in Cardigan Bay, off the Welsh coast.

Richard Guest, 74, and another member of the public went into the sea in in the resort town of Tywyn to help the girls who got caught in a rip current on Saturday afternoon.

A statement issued by the family said: "One of the girls came out of the water unaided but the other girl was still in distress. He was about 40 yards out from the shore and was seen holding one of the girls up out of the water in his arms by the time Aberdovey coastguard arrived and managed to save the girl."

Mr Guest was pulled unconscious from the water by a lifeboat crew before being airlifted to hospital in Aberystwyth, where he was pronounced dead.

The other rescuer and the teenagers were safely recovered from the water, police said. The girls were taken to hospital as a precaution.

Mr Guest, from Walsall, was on a weekend break with his wife Margaret, 71, and they had been walking their dog on the beach when the girls got into trouble.

Mr Guest's daughter Ceri Donovan said: "We cannot imagine life without him. He was loved by so many people.

"Dad was brought up in Bethel, Near Caernarfon, north Wales, and attended Ysgol Syr Hugh Owen. He was a strong swimmer and was used to swimming on that particular part of the beach. It was just like him to do something so selfless and brave."

Mr Guest, who was also known as Dick, had a long-standing connection with Handsworth Rugby Union Football Club, where he was a former player and a keen supporter.

He had worked as a bank manager for the former Midland Bank and later worked for PFA Financial Management in Birmingham. He was a father of two, grandfather of four and enjoyed spending time on his allotment.

Mrs Donovan said: "He was an active man who loved the outdoors, and was at happiest in Tywyn with his family.

"At the end of the day, he was a family man. He was a great father and a much-loved grandfather. We will miss him terribly."

Scores of tributes have been posted on the Love Tywyn Facebook page, describing Mr Guest as brave, kind and a "true hero".