Shrewsbury river baby rescue heroes to receive top national award
Three Shrewsbury heroes who saved an eight-month-old baby from drowning when the child's pushchair was blown into the River Severn have been awarded top national life-saving honours.
The three Shrewsbury Town Council workers – Michael Brammall, 28, of Roseway, Sundorne; James Williams, 34, of Longner Street, and Andrew Hill, 28, of Abbots Road – have also won the personal praise of Dick Wilkinson, Secretary of the Royal Humane Society.
"Put simply they were the right people in the right place at the right time," he said. "Thankfully they were able to respond immediately to what had happened and as a result this baby's life was saved. But for them she would almost certainly be dead."
Now James Williams and Andrew Hill are to receive Royal Humane Society testimonials on parchment and Michael Brammall is to receive a Certificate of Commendation.
The incident happened near Castlefields on the morning of February 13 last year as the little girl's grandmother was walking her in her pushchair.
Describing how the near disaster unfolded Mr Wilkinson said: "The grandmother had just walked past the three men but about 30 metres further along the path, a gust of wind caught the pushchair and it was blown into the river.
"The baby and pushchair quickly disappeared under water. The grandmother screamed and the three council workers ran to her. James Williams and Andrew Hill went straight into the water, fully dressed including fluorescent jackets.
"They found the pushchair with the baby still strapped in, and brought it to the surface. In the mean time Michael Brammall had found a lifebelt which he threw to the other two men, to help stabilise them. They were then able to release the baby and hand her up to him.
"The baby was gurgling but he held her at the right angle to allow the water to come out. The baby was estimated to have been under water for about forty seconds. This was a very close call. Every second counted. These three richly deserve the awards that have been made to them."
No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards which have been made following a recommendation from West Mercia Police but it is expected to take place in the near future.
The roots of the Royal Humane Society stretch back more than two centuries. Its president is Princess Alexandra and it is the premier national body for honouring bravery in the saving of human life.
It was founded in 1774 by two of the day's eminent medical men, William Hawes and Thomas Cogan. Their primary motive was to promote techniques of resuscitation.
