In a matter of minutes, Orett Barrington Williams went from being a typical 16-year-old high school student from Kingston to a hero who saved the lives of two complete strangers.

On a routine Sunday evening, while walking behind the old sardine factory on Marcus Garvey Drive, Orett noticed seven boys swimming in the sea behind the abandoned building. It's an area that is popular among swimmers, especially young boys.

On that day, there were only the seven boys and a fisherman.

Orett noticed a ship nearby and recalled that it passed surprisingly close to where the boys were swimming. He said the ship created a giant wave that lifted the boys with it.

"I see when the wave lift them up and I said to the fisherman that dem drowning and the fisherman said lef' dem mek dem drown." The fisherman, he said, was peeved at the fact that the boys ignored his warnings about the dangers of swimming in the area. The fisherman just rode off on his bicycle.

Orett jumped into sea

Not having the heart to stand there and watch the boys drown, Orett jumped in to save the boys. By then, four of the boys had reached shore, shouting for help for their three friends who were left behind.

"The four of dem coulda swim better so dem leave the friends. I just jumped in the water and went to rescue dem," he continued, "I went to the one who bawl out for help first and bring him to shore and then I went for the second one. By the time I was about to go for the third one, he was way out."

Orett said he tried to go for the third boy, but he realised that he could not make it, because it would be very dangerous for him.

Feeling proud that he saved two lives is still a bittersweet moment for the Tivoli Gardens High School student because he was unable to save the third boy, who eventually drowned.

Orett, however, thinks it was probably the best decision to stay ashore in order to save his life. "If I did go for him maybe I would drown too, because him would want (to) save him life and then could drown me while doing it."

An eye-opener

That incident is an eye-opener for Orett who used to enjoy swimming at that location. "Every day me use to go swim ... but now is jus beach me going swim with my family."

His family, he says, has become extremely serious warning him against reckless swimming. "Dem tell me stop going there, I go one place already and see somebody nearly drown and now I go there so and somebody drown. They say it could be a sign that if I go back go swim it's going to be my time."

Five days since the incident, Orett said he had trouble sleeping, because of the memory of the boy drowning. "Is like a remember when him go up the last time and then go down and that was the last time I see him," he said shaking his head.

Senior Superintendent Delroy Hewitt, head of the Kingston West Police Division, said the area behind the old factory is a common spot for children to swim.

He also said children often disobeyed police warnings not to swim at the location. The senior superintendent is urging parents to monitor their children properly and to warn them against this practice. "It is very dangerous; there are crocodiles in the water, and not only that, the water is not clean as sewage is being let out in the water," he said.