Hero rescues woman in Mersey
Published: May 14, 2007
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.”
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