East Lothian Courier | | Mum salutes harbour ‘hero’

Tuesday, 7th October, 2008

Published: Friday, 28th July, 2006 10:26

Mum salutes harbour ‘hero’

THE mother of the boy who fell into Port Seton harbour last week has described the man who jumped in to save him as “heroic”.

Young Ben Thomson, 11, from Port Seton, was fishing last Tuesday evening with a friend when he caught his thumb on the hook and fainted, falling into the icy sea.

A 21-year-old man bravely dived into the freezing water to rescue Ben after Ben’s friend had raised the alarm and Edinburgh boatman, Keith Muir, 34, who was on his 17 foot, Mistral boat at the time, threw Ben a buoy.

Other passers-by then helped the youngster to safety up a ladder after the ‘hero’ had brought him to the side of the pier.

And Ben’s relieved mother, Lindsay, was thankful there were people around to save her son from tragedy.

She said: “Ben is still in shock after this accident. but I am so grateful to Ben’s rescuer for doing what he did.

“He was so heroic. Not many people would jump into a harbour to do that and we will be eternally grateful.

“Ben and his friend are both good swimmers and the only problem seems to be the faint caused by the hook getting snagged in his hand. I was so fortunate that someone so brave was on hand to help.

“We also have to thank everyone else who helped at the harbour as they were all amazing.”

Ben said the accident was still a bit of a mystery as he can’t remember falling into the water.

“I was fishing with my friend at the harbour when I caught the hook in my thumb,” he explained.

“I started to feel faint and dizzy and the next thing I knew I woke up in the water.

“A man jumped in beside me and pushed me back into the side and I hung onto my friend’s line while some other people pulled me up the steps and out of the water. I still don’t remember falling in.”

Ben was taken by ambulance to the Sick Kids in Edinburgh to recover and was discharged last Wednesday after treatment to his hand.

The coastguard said it was an unfortunate accident but have urged people to be aware of their own safety when near the water.

A spokesman said: “When undertaking any activity on the coast or at the seaside, please be aware of your surroundings and ensure that you are responsible for your own safety.”

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