A SCHOOLGIRL has been hailed a hero after she saved a nine-year-old girl from drowning at a Spanish resort.

Molly Rebanks, 12, of Colne, was staying at a hotel in Salou, on the Costa Dorada, with her family when the dramatic incident unfolded.

She was in the pool when her dad Terence, who was sitting on the first floor balcony, noticed that another girl had sunk to the bottom.

He shouted down to Molly, who immediately dived down and dragged the unconscious Irish girl, called Pamela, out of the water.

Molly’s mum Anne, 47, a community midwife at Burnley's Lancashire Women's and Newborn Centre, said: “She was something of a hero. The girl was unconscious when Molly pulled her out of the water.

“She managed to pull her up and then some other people who were pool-side helped out.

“The girl regained consciousness quite quickly but she spent 48 hours in hospital.”

The drama unfolded at around 6pm on Friday, August 22, in the final few days of the Rebanks’ two-week family holiday.

Anne, Terence, 55, Molly and her eight-year-old sister Maisie, who live in Castercliff Bank, had been staying at the Villa Romana Hotel.

“It had been quite rainy during the day and we’d had some thunderstorms as well," said Anne.

“Normally at that time the pool was packed, but on this occasion there was a only few people in it because of the weather.

“Me and my husband were sitting on our first floor balcony watching the girls swim. Suddenly Terence shouted down to Molly that this girl had sunk to the bottom.

“We think she had just got into difficulty in the pool, she had gone too deep. Terence said he had noticed her going under the water a few times, but that is what children do so thought nothing of it.”

Anne ran down to help, but by the time she got down the girl was conscious and was being looked after.

An ambulance was called and she was taken to hospital for checks.

Anne said: “It was a horrible experience. Molly was really shaken by it, it’s not a nice thing for a 12-year-old to go through.

“She did brilliantly but it did really upset her. She didn’t want to go back in the pool at first, but a couple of days later she was fine and was back to jumping in.

“Molly is a strong swimmer, she started having lessons when she was three and has swum for Colne Swimming Club, so she knew what she was doing.”

The family didn’t get to meet Pamela’s family, but they were left a note thanking them for Molly’s help.

“By the time they were back from hospital we had left,” said Anne. “But they did leave us a note and some wine thanking us.

“They were very thankful for what Molly did.”

Joan Croxall, from Colne Amateur Swimming Club, said: “Molly joined us as a non-swimmer when she was about five and she has been fantastic. She’s done really well and has gone the gala’s and everything we’ve asked of her.

“She has obviously learn an awful lot and we’re proud of her. She has recently given up her swimming with us to concentrate on athletics.”