It happened 30 years ago and it still gives him nightmares, but Renalda Bean is determined to fight his demons and write a book about an amazing sea rescue.

Mr. Bean, 65, is currently a taxi driver, but 30 years ago he was a lifeguard at the Stonington Beach and while he helped many people, there is one particular day that sticks out in his mind and has caused him nightmares for year.

In the late 1970s or early 1980s Mr. Bean saved a lifeless white local when he and his three white friends experienced serious trouble while swimming in the storm surge off Elbow Beach.

He never got the names of the young Bermudians but would like to meet them as he is preparing to write a book about his life.

One afternoon he was working at his usual area on Stonington Beach when he heard people yelling on Elbow Beach. He rushed over and was told four boys were having difficulties swimming. He told The Royal Gazette that there was a hurricane off Bermuda at the time and swells were ten-feet high.

"I looked out on to the water, but could not see anyone," he said. "I made two attempts to get past the waves, but each time they pushed me back. On the third attempt I dove under the waves and swam underwater until I was beyond the crashing waves and surf."

When Mr. Bean came up he saw one of the young men, who pointed to his other three friends who were having more trouble before swimming safely to shore. One of them was being supported by his two friends, because he was having major difficulties, further out from shore.

"When I got within 80-feet of the (other three) boys I saw one of the boys who was holding the third boy let go of him and begin swimming towards shore. As the boy let go, his friend disappeared under the swell.

"He passed by me at about 60 feet and said that he was exhausted and could no longer hold on.

"When I was about 40 feet from the final two the last boy holding on to his friend could hold on no longer and he let go and headed to shore. As the boy let go of his friend, the non-swimming friend disappeared under the surging swells."

Mr. Bean said he focused on the spot where he last saw the young man go underwater and swam as fast as he could. The visibility was poor due to the choppy waves and churning ocean but with a bit of luck he managed to find the young man.

"As my arms made the wide sweeping motion (of breast stroke) I touched him with my left hand, still unable to see I turned and gripped him and brought him to the surface, his body was limp," he said. "There was no indication of life.

"I applied preassure to his stomach. As I applied preassure he vomited a lot of water. There was still no indication of life.

"His body was so limp I was certain he was dead, but while carrying him to shore I made certain to keep his head above the water."

As he swam ashore with the young man another person tried to swim out and help, but complicated matters before returning to shore alone.

"The currents were so strong that I could not make any headway towards shore," Mr. Bean said. "While treading water I began to fear for my own life.

"Each time I was carried to the pinnacle of a wave I could see what seemed to me as hundreds of people on the shore line. I could also see the ambulance crew and many police."

He assumed someone would come and help him, but the waves grew worse and the onlookers were pushed off the beach and onto the rocks.

Mr. Bean admitted that he considered letting the young man go in order to save himself, but couldn't.

"I don't know whether I could not let go because of my cramped fingers being locked on him or because of my lifeguard oath," he admitted. "I put a demand on the Lord, through prayer to get us in."

Suddenly, Mr. Bean was being pushed ashore by the swells. As the swells pushed him inland another lifeguard, Mickey Caines, ran out to help and grabbed the young white man from Mr. Bean.

"As I released the boy, a wave swept in and took me back out to sea," he said. "Everyone was so concerned about the boy they did not realise I was completely exhausted and could only go with the wave."

Luckily another swell pushed Mr. Bean ashore again and a female tourist grabbed hold of his arm and screamed for help. Two men assisted her in pulling Mr. Bean safely to shore.

While he was laying on the bank exhausted and catching his breath paramedics went to work on the young man he had just saved, who was resuscitated and rushed to the hospital.

A misunderstanding meant the reporter attending the scene interviewed Mr. Caines — the lifeguard who had pulled the young man out of the ocean – and not Mr. Bean. Mr. Bean was never interviewed about his heroic efforts.

"I never got any of the boys' names nor did I ever get to meet their families," he said. "If anyone knows any of these people who were involved or were there that day please contact me at 334-8835 or 236-9601."