The dramatic rescue happened on Friday during a family holiday to North Devon, when Malachy Daly, who was enjoying a day at the beach with his wife and children, noticed something out of the corner of his eye.

Two young people found themselves stuck on a cliff face and were frantically trying to raise the alarm to people on Hele Bay beach on the south west coast.

Luckily, Malachy spotted them and immediately contacted the coastguard who were on the scene within minutes.

Malachy's proud brother, Sean, who contacted the 'Journal' to let us know of the rescue, said that thanks to his brother's quick action, a tragedy was averted.

Sean said: "Malachy and his family were playing on the beach when Malachy noticed two teenagers, a girl and a boy, sitting on some rocks. He realised they had been cut off from getting back on to the beach by the incoming tide.

"Malachy shouted to them to remain where they were and gave them the thumbs up that he would raise the alarm. He phoned the coastguard who alerted the Search and Rescue helicopter and the Lifeboat. The RNLI lifeboat from Ilfracombe and SAR Helicopter from Chivenor arrived at the same time as the coastguard mobile incident centre. The lifeboat got close enough for one of the volunteers to wade ashore and reach the teenagers. The teenagers were then taken back to the beach where they were attended to by the coastguard first aiders."

It was later realised that the two teenagers couldn't swim. The coastguard told Malachy that if he hadn't contacted them there was no telling what would have happened.

Sean said: "Both teenagers were shaken by their experience but unharmed. They panicked and were not sure what to do when they realised they were stranded on the rocks until Malachy shouted to reassure them. There was a fast flowing river, swollen by the recent heavy rains, that would have quickly carried them out to sea if they had fallen in the water. It had all the ingredients of a holiday tragedy that was averted by Malachy's quick thinking and decisive action."

By co-incidence, Malachy and his family had paid a visit to the Ilfracombe RNLI station earlier that day. That evening, unfazed by his new found hero status, the local man enjoyed a few quiet beers with family and friends.