TWO 12-year-olds have been hailed as heroes after rescuing a teenager from the sea.

Friends Tom Peppin and Miller Frith were testing out their new bikes when they spotted a 13-year-old boy stripping off for a swim at Black Rock near Brighton Marina on Saturday.

Within seconds the swimmer, called Casper, got into trouble and was unable to swim back to shore so Tom and Miller leapt into action.

Tom called 999 and kept calm on the phone as emergency services rushed to the scene. Meanwhile Miller alerted some nearby adults to the boy’s struggle.

Tom, of Roedean Road, Brighton, said: “We were riding our bikes and we got to the marina wall and started watching a boy going for a swim.

“At first it seemed quite funny. He was laughing and his friends were all laughing. Then he started to really try to get out and he wasn’t going anywhere.

“Then it got much more scary. He was screaming for help at the top of his lungs.

“I called 999 and Miller ran to get some adults. They threw in a life ring but it was too close to the rocks and the rope cut.

“He managed to get the life ring over him, but Miller saw he was too close to the wall and was going to hit it.

“I was on the call for about 15 minutes but it felt like longer because we were just waiting for someone to come and help.”

Tom and Miller’s calmness under pressure has been praised by lifeguards and police and their parents said they were incredibly proud.

A lifeboat tried to reach Casper but could not get close enough because of the marina wall and unpredictable conditions in the rough sea.

Eventually lifeguard Ryan Pook, a strong swimmer, powered through breaking waves to reach the boy and secure him in a rescue tube, reassure him and hold him clear of breaking waves.

Sea conditions were described as “unpredictable” 40 metres west of the marina, an area known as the “washing machine” as waves are thrown back from the marina walls.

Seafront operations manager Chris Ingall said: “I cannot emphasise enough just what an amazing rescue this was. Having been involved at the scene, it is difficult to express just what unfolded to save this young lad’s life.

“This could well have ended in tragedy.”

Casper was released from hospital on Sunday, having made a full recovery.