The hero schoolboys who rescued a woman and baby from a canal in Widnes
They'd been playing football nearby before rushing to help
Hero school boys have been awarded special police commendations for rescuing a woman and a baby from a canal in Widnes.
The 39 year old mum had been feeding the ducks at Spike Island, when her baby's pram rolled into the water.
The woman's 4 year old daughter ran to get help, and came back with the seven boys, who had been playing football nearby,
They rushed over to the canal and helped to get the woman and the baby out of the water.
They then called for an ambulance and helped the woman in keeping the baby warm as they waited for paramedics to arrive.
The boys – 15-year-old Tyler Moses, 14-year-olds Ethan Melvin, Joe Draycott and Campbell Law, 12-year-old Ellis Hulme, 11-year-old McCauley Maguire and 10-year-old Jacob Potter – took their coats off to keep the baby warm and also aided the paramedics at the scene.
The woman and baby were assessed by the paramedics before being taken to Whiston Hospital in an ambulance as a precaution.
Police officers also attended the incident, which happened at around 4.30pm on Saturday 7 December.
Chief Inspector Catherine Pritchard, of Widnes Local Policing Unit, said: “The quick thinking, bravery and community spirit of the boys impressed everyone at Widnes Police Station.
“They helped to prevent this incident from becoming far more serious.
“As such we decided that all seven boys are worthy of special commendations in recognition of their heroic actions.”
Six of the boys received a Chief Inspector's Commendation ‘for displaying bravery and community spirit in helping to rescue a woman and her baby from a canal' during a presentation ceremony at Widnes Police Station on Monday 6 December.
Members of their families attended, as did the woman and baby they helped.
The remaining boy, Tyler Moses, will receive his commendation at a later date.
Chief Inspector Pritchard added: “The presentation gave the mum the chance to thank the group of boys in person.
“She even gave them presents.
“The mum was feeding ducks with her four-year-old daughter when the pram rolled into the canal.
“She did a great job in keeping her baby above the cold water once the pram had entered it and is eternally grateful to the boys for everything they did for her and her baby that day.
“Her four-year-old daughter also did a fantastic job in managing to get help for her mum and sister and as such she also received a commendation during the presentation ceremony.”
The four-year-old’s Chief Inspector's Commendation was awarded for ‘finding people to help her mum and sister as they were struggling in a canal’.