Luisa Petta, a member of the South Worcester Lifesaving and Lifeguarding Club, has recently been using her lifesaving skills at the frontline of fighting COVID-19. She is a paediatric nurse working at the ICU in Southampton Children’s Hospital.  

Luisa has been a member of the South Worcester Lifesaving and Lifeguarding Club for many years and started her lifesaving skills there. Whilst at the club, she was a Lifesaving Instructor delivering Survive & Save sessions to other club members, a member of the South Worcester Flood Rescue Team and represented Scotland in Lifesaving Sport internationally.

She has recently been recognised by ITV’s Good Morning Britain, for her efforts with one particular patient, Marisa Bappoo, who spent 10 days in an induced coma on a ventilator at Southampton Children’s Hospital, before regaining consciousness on her 16th birthday.

Teresa Myatt, Vice Chairperson of said: “South Worcester Lifesaving and Lifeguarding Club is extremely proud of Luisa. She has always been an excellent role model for our younger members, and she epitomises what lifesaving is about.

“The skills learnt at our club empower young people to be the best that they can be, and we have many members working as key workers, including doctors, paramedics, police offices, teachers and RNLI lifeboat crew. Well done to Luisa and thank you for saving lives.”

Luisa added: “Being a member of the South Worcester Lifesaving and Lifeguarding Club gave me lots of opportunities to learn crucial skills that have been invaluable whilst I have been on the ward of the ICU unit. I would like to thank everyone that supported me.”

If you know of other RLSS UK members supporting the efforts for COVID-19, we would love to hear about them.

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