Hero rescues woman in Mersey

Published: May 14, 2007 | 6203rd good news item since 2003

AN OFF-duty lifeguard rescued a woman and her two dogs after they became cut off by incoming tide.

Quick-thinking Paddy Maloney grabbed a lifebelt and waded through the water to help the woman in her 30s who was stranded on a sandbank.

The New Brighton lifeguard had been enjoying a day off and was cycling past Vale Park when the incident took place at around 3pm on Thursday.

“I looked out across the river and noticed that a dog walker was in distress,” said Paddy.

“The tide was coming in and she was starting to panic and so I instinctively grabbed one of the lifebelts and headed out to help.

“I was up to my chest in water and had to struggle around some rocks before I reached the lady and reassured her.

“It took a short while to bring her and the dogs back to safety and we were already on dry land before the Merseyside fire rescue boat arrived to assist.”

Hailed a hero by his colleagues, Paddy, who has been a lifeguard for four years said: “I think I was just in the right place at the right time.

“It’s strange because I don’t usually cycle past that way. It must have been fate.”

Tony Jones, head lifeguard for Wirral Council, said: “We would warn all Wirral residents never to walk out to sandbanks unless they are 100% sure of the tidal times. It is far too dangerous to risk it.”

Published in Rescues
See also: www.thisiswirral.co.uk