'Proud dad moment' as PC and daughters honoured for sea rescue
9 October 2026
A West Mercia Police officer and his two daughters are being recognised for their bravery after saving a man from drowning during a family holiday in Cornwall.
PC Shaun Lyle and his daughters Macey, 19, and Poppy, 16, were swimming in the sea at Treyarnon Bay in Cornwall when they spotted three people in difficulty, including one man in his 70s who was struggling to stay above the water.
The family helped get them all back to safety and are now set to receive recognition from the Royal Humane Society for their actions in August 2025.
Shaun said his family regularly visit the area, which is known for its dangerous rip currents.
PC Shaun Lyle and his daughters Macey and Poppy
They were bodyboarding when they spotted the man, his wife, and daughter who appeared to have been caught in one of the rip currents.
Shaun said: “At first, we thought that they were just swimming in that area, and then it became quite apparent that the man was really beginning to struggle.
“He was disappearing under the water, and each time the amount of time he was going under became longer.”
Shaun and his daughters immediately swam over to help.
Absolute fear
He said: “I’ve previously described it as like absolute fear in his eyes and he disappeared under the water.
“We managed to reach him and pull him back to the surface and then I gave him my bodyboard to hold on to.
“We thought he was going to be okay at that point and we'd be able to guide him out of the current and take him back to shore.
“However, he just continued in his sort of desperation and let go of my board.
Self-preservation
“My daughter was close by and he grabbed hold of my daughter and pushed her under the water. It was like an act of self-preservation.”
Fortunately, Macey, who is a trained lifeguard, was able to break free. Poppy, meanwhile, was looking after the two women.
Shaun said that they eventually got the man to hold onto the bodyboard and
She had given them a bodyboard to hold onto and was manoeuvre them back to the shore, where he was handed over to lifeguards for further care.
Do the right thing
Shaun said the three then carried on with their holiday and returned to the water.
“It was kind of one of those events where you do the right thing, what you think needs to be done at that time, and then we just carried on,” he said.
“It was only when we paddled back out to where we were that it dawned that the man was drowning.”
The rescued man later found the family on the beach and thanked them personally.
Life savers
Shaun said: “He said, ‘I just want to thank you. I was going to die. There’s no doubt in my mind I was going to die and you guys saved my life.’”
Shaun had initially nominated Macey and Poppy for a Royal Humane Society award, believing their actions deserved particular credit.
“They’re comfortable, confident swimmers,” he said. “They acted so maturely and did what needed to be done and acted so calm.
“I’m really chuffed for them. It’s a proud dad moment, really.”
Royal Humane Society award
The awards will be presented through West Mercia Police when a suitable date can be found.
The rescue is another remarkable chapter in Shaun’s policing career, which spans 25 years.
Shaun began his service with West Midlands Police, where he spent 18 years working in a range of teams, before transferring to West Mercia Police in 2019.
Since then, he has worked in response and on the firearms team before moving into more public-facing roles.
Police roles
He has worked as a police liaison officer and operational football officer travelling around the country, as well as supporting policing at public events. He is now part of the Madeley neighbourhood team.
In 2017, Shaun travelled to the British Virgin Islands as part of the police and disaster relief response following Hurricanes Irma and Maria.
He said he was ‘really fortunate to have experienced a lot’ in his career, and says he still thoroughly enjoys policing.
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