Woman, 71, jumped in canal to save grandson

[SO19]

Woman, 71, jumped in canal to save grandson

By Kate Devlin
Last Updated: 2:34am BST 19/10/2007

A pensioner who jumped into a canal to save her drowning grandson was praised by police yesterday.

Helen Hylands, 71, saved 11-year-old Ross Highlands after he accidentally fell into the Union canal on the outskirts of Falkirk.

The former nurse jumped in as her grandson, a learner swimmer, struggled to keep his head above water after he slipped and fell from the canalbank on Tuesday.

Neither of them could reach the bank to pull themselves out, but eventually their cries were heard by two passersby, who hauled them to safety.

Central Scotland Police have nominated Mrs Hylands for a "meritorious conduct" award for her actions.

The grandmother of seven said yesterday that her only thought was to save Ross when she heard him fall into the canal.

After an unsuccessful attempt to pull him to safety using a dog's leash, she said she felt she had "no choice" but to jump into the water.

"The water was so deep and cold and I couldn't risk going for help in case Ross wasn't there when I got back.

"I couldn't have lived with myself if anything had happened to him. I didn't even take off my shoes.

"I just thought 'I've had my life, there's no way Ross is going to lose his now'.

"I grabbed on to Ross and told him to shout as loud as he could and we both screamed 'help'.

"He was holding my neck and pulling me down, but I managed to adjust his grip and was able to swim with him to the side, but it was impossible to get out because the sides were so high. A man came along and I asked him to get Ross out first."

The passerby pulled her grandson from the water, then went to attract the attention of a second man, who helped Mrs Hylands.

A spokesman for Central Scotland Police praised her actions.

"This woman acted with great heroism. She and the two men who helped will be put forward for meritorious conduct awards for their actions," she said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jh ... ner119.xml

[SO19]

"I couldn't have lived with myself if anything had happened to him. I didn't even take off my shoes.

"I just thought 'I've had my life, there's no way Ross is going to lose his now'.

Well done to that women.

[Airborne Legend]

She obviously wasn't a community Support Officer!

[SO19]

You stole my next line mate.

[Stinky]

I wish I could say well done personaly.

[HarryAVFC]

She obviously wasn't a community Support Officer!

LOL I knew that was coming but I was expecting SO19 to get there first.

What ya playing at SO ?

[Airborne Legend]

getting old mate?