A 20-YEAR-OLD medical student tragically drowned after swimming to rescue three struggling women at a popular UK beach.
Jack Edward Lees was an aspiring brain surgeon who joined a university trip toBude, Cornwall,in June last year.
He went with Bristol University Student Union's Wild Swimming Society and stayed in a campsite in a field just north of Northcott Mouth Beach.
When a few of the students went to enjoy an evening swim on June 4, brave Jack spotted three panicking girls struggling in the sea and swam 500m out to help them with a friend.
Jack was unable to make it back to shore as bigger waves set in, and he tragically drowned after his heroic actions, an inquest heard.
His heartbroken mum Dr Dawn Lees said her son had been an “amazing young man.”
She said: “Jack never had the 21st birthday party he had been planning in our garden.
“Instead of birthday cards for him we received condolences.
“I want him to be remembered for the three girls who would likely be dead if it was not for him.”
A* student Jack was sent to turn 21 just a few days before his body was discovered on Upton Beach on June 18.
The beach wasn't lifeguarded and had a sign warning beachgoers not to go into the sea.
The inquest heard there were 20 students from the swimming society on the beach and 10 in the water.
Jack's shock death prompted a response from the Bristol University Student Union to improve safety within dangerous sports at the institution.
His mum said the tragic event led to hundreds of students attending his memorial, offering heartfelt tributes to the young man.
Primary school friends raised £11,300 for the RNLI in his honour
Detective Sergeant Tom McIntyre, the officer in the case,told the inquest that Jack's actions had been nothing short of heroic.
He said: “This was an event when students went to the area for a swim and Jack entered the water heroically to save others that were in trouble in the water and during those efforts he got into trouble himself and didn't manage to get out.”
Assistant coroner for Cornwall and theIsles of ScillyEmma Hillson said admirably Jack had put himself in danger to try to help others but died as a result.
She said: “He had the brave intention to enter the water to help others in difficulty.
“He placed his own safety at risk to help others which led to this tragic outcome.”
