Crown Prince Frederik and Princess Mary's eldest son Prince Christian was recently pulled from the waves on an Australian beach by a lifeguard, but a spokesperson for the royals denies the prince was in serious danger.The incident occurred as Prince Frederik and his Australian-born wife took Christian, ten, and their three other children, Princess Isabella, eight, and four-year-old Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent, to Mermaid Beach on the Gold Coast in Queensland.
© Photo: RexNick Malcolm, the lifeguard responsible for pulling the young royal from the surf, says he was not aware that the child was second in line to the Danish throne.However, a Danish royal family spokesperson claims the lifeguard was aware who the prince was and had been instructed to watch him closely. "Lifeguards must always be alert, and in this case they knew who was in the water, so perhaps they were extra alert. They made extra certain that Prince Christian was okay – which he was. In other words, the situation was completely undramatic," royal family head of communication Lene Balleby told Danish news agency Ritzau.
© Photo: RexLifeguard Nick chose not to speak to local media immediately following the incident. His supervisor Stuart Keay told Australia's Channel 7 TV station: "We got him before it got too serious, but he wouldn't have come back in. "Speaking after the incident, Nick told Australian regional newspaper the Gold Coast Bulletin: "He was in between the flags in the deep part before the break and just got swept off his feet."“He was a really good swimmer – it helped that he didn't panic," he added.The lifeguard was personally thanked by the crown prince, according to Channel Seven News.This is the first time that Mary has returned to Australia with all of her children since 2011. Mary and Frederik arrived in Australia on 6 December, beginning a long Christmas holiday visiting Mary's friends and family from her home country.The family then made their way to the east coast, and will travel down to Mary's hometown of Hobart in Tasmania for Christmas.
