BOLTON'S next Mayor was dramatically rescued from drowning while he was on holiday in Barbados. Cllr Peter Finch was swept out to sea with Westhoughton Cricket Club official Tommy Parker as they were swimming at the resort of Rainbow Reef. The two men, who were on a cricket club trip to the Caribbean to watch an England test match, were eventually dragged to safety by a coastguard on a broken surf board.

Cllr Finch, of The Welland, Westhoughton, said: "It was very frightening.

"I thought it was Doomsday. There is no doubt that the Barbadian coastguard who came out to rescue us saved our lives.

"It all happened so quickly. It was the first day of our holiday and we were swimming in the waves.

"The water was about chest high and there seemed no danger. But suddenly, there was an undercurrent and we were swept off our feet.

"We were just being taken further and further out to sea. If we had not been able to swim, then that would have been it.

"Thankfully, there was a Barbadian on a surf board who tried to help us.

"We grabbed hold of his board, but it snapped in two. He signalled to the coast guard who swam out to us.

"He was a fantastic swimmer, I have never seen anything like it.

"He told us to grab hold of the broken surf board and somehow he dragged us both back to the shore.

"Afterwards, the guy who owned the surfboard asked us if we would pay towards the cost of a new one. I certainly didn't mind because he had saved my life.

"I couldn't sleep that night and it has really shaken me up. I am just glad to be back in Bolton and really looking forward to my year as Mayor."

Cllr Finch will take over as Bolton's new Mayor in May when the present Mayor, Cllr Peter Birch, ends his term of office.

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