My brother, my hero!
Published: August 10, 2007
AN 11-year-old Perthshire boy is being hailed a hero for saving his little sister from certain death after a family cycle ride turned into a terrifying ordeal.
Cool-headed Connor Newlands scrambled 20 feet down a steep bank and plunged into a fast-flowing river to hold his trapped and drowning sister Gemma above water until help arrived.
The drama unfolded last week when self-employed Comrie joiner Dale Newlands took his three children out for an evening bike ride along the walk by the banks of the River Lednock.
When six-year-old Georgia’s bike threw its chain near the local golf course, however, the group became separated as dad stopped to mend the problem.
Yesterday, a relieved mother Joanne told what happened next.
“Connor cycled on along the path with his nine-year-old sister Gemma close behind,” she said. “Then Gemma’s bike hit some large stones, she careered across the path and over the edge of the riverbank.”
Gemma and her bike plummeted 20 feet down a vertical bank into the rocky riverbed below. Her head narrowly missed two large boulders but she became trapped underwater with her bike pinning her down and her legs out of the water and up the cliff face.
Meanwhile, Connor realised his sister was no longer on his tail and went back to investigate. When he looked over the river-bank he immediately realised the danger Gemma was in and raced to her rescue.
“She was upside down and could get no purchase with her feet, and her upper body was being held below the water by her bike,” said Joanne. “She was trapped and she was drowning.”
And but for the quick actions of her brother, Gemma would soon have lost the battle against the water rapidly sapping her breath away.
“He didn’t think about his own safety,” said his proud mother. “He just plunged down the banking into the water and tried to free Gemma from the bike.”
Connor could only hold the bike aside with one leg and reach into the water to raise his sister’s head above the surface. He couldn’t separate her from the bike and he couldn’t leave her submerged to try and pull the cycle away.
“The next few minutes were frantic for everyone,” said Joanne. “Dale heard Connor and Gemma screaming for help and he rushed along the track but couldn’t see them.
“When he eventually pinpointed where the screams were coming from he was terrified at what he saw.”
Dale plunged into the river and helped Connor pull the bike free of Gemma while keeping the little girl’s head above water until she could move again. Both children were then hauled back up the bank by their father to safety.
Back home, a bedraggled family told their tale to a horrified Joanne.
“I couldn’t believe that a simple family cycle ride had turned into such a nightmare,” she said. “Gemma was fabulous afterwards but she became a little tearful after she had a shower and the shock kicked in. Connor didn’t want any fuss and was keen to play down his part in the whole drama.”
But Joanne and Dale are in no doubt about how vital Connor’s actions were.
“We’re so proud of him,” said Joanne. “I don’t know what would have happened if Connor hadn’t got there in time. Dale didn’t know where she was and would never have found her before it was too late. It just doesn’t bear thinking about. Connor saved his sister’s life – it’s as simple as that.
“He’s always been very protective of his sister and he didn’t think twice when he saw her in trouble. He was very brave and didn’t hesitate to get down into the water when he knew she needed him.
“Gemma thinks he is the best brother in the world,” added Joanne. “He’s our hero and we owe him everything.”
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