Kidsgrove canal heroes to be honoured for brave rescue of drowning pensioner
THREE teenagers who rescued a drowning pensioner from a canal are to be given special awards for their bravery.
GCSE students Andy Shaw, Grace Eaton and Angelina Cliff pulled the 68-year-old man and his Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Poppy, out of the Trent and Mersey Canal in Kidsgrove.
The drama unfolded after the trio heard the man's screams as they were helping out at a nearby cub scout camp last week.
Andy fell into the canal himself in an effort to haul the victim out of the water, before the three helped get the pensioner safely back to his Third Avenue home.
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Now the youngsters, who have just finished their exams at Maryhill High School, have been offered free tickets to Alton Towers by Kidsgrove Rotary Club.
They will also be handed certificates to recognise their courage.
Rotarian John White came up with the idea after reading about the teenagers' heroics in The Sentinel.
The 64-year-old, of The Meadows, said: "I raised this at a meeting on Wednesday night.
"They are shining examples of the outstanding young people we have in Kidsgrove and they should be given something to recognise what they did.
"I feel that we should let them know that we think what they did was really brilliant. They've saved this guy's life and we can't think of a better way to say thank you."
The group has also been praised by Kidsgrove deputy mayor Kyle Robinson. It comes as Kidsgrove Town Council is considering them for its Good Citizen awards.
He said: "Young people in Kidsgrove do get bad press from time to time, and this just goes to show that we have some great kids who really care about Kidsgrove and the area they live in.
"Not everyone would have done what they did and I think it's just fantastic. We will certainly be considering them for Good Citizen awards when they come around this year."
The friends have been flattered by the praise.
Sixteen-year-old Andy, of Second Avenue, who was head boy at Maryhill, said: "It's been crazy. I've been recognised just walking down the street a few times.
"My sister went to get her hair cut and the hairdresser was telling her how she cuts my hair. My sister thought that was funny.
"People have been too good if anything. We're very grateful.
"It was special what we did because I don't know if everyone would have done the same, but it's really just because we were in the right place at the right time. We had to make a snap decision."
Grace, aged 15, of Parklands, Kidsgrove, said: "I didn't expect so much attention. We just did what was right."
Angelina, aged 16, of Kinnersley Avenue, Kidsgrove, said: "It's really flattering but I don't feel as though we did anything really special. I'd like to think anyone would have done it."
The pensioner, who does not want to be named, had been trying to rescue his dog after it fell into the canal when he also tumbled in. The youngsters will receive their certificates at a forthcoming meeting of the rotary club.
Comments
by james208
Friday, June 29 2012, 8:11PM
“Andy Shaw, Grace Eaton and Angelina Cliff : outstanding and an excellent example to us all. Teamwork, courage, determination, and even helping out at a local scouts camp. Well done young people. You deserve to formally saluted.”
by LoveForStoke
Friday, June 29 2012, 7:01PM
“Sometimes it takes something, and more importantly someone to make a difference. Sometimes overcoming fear to help others is a first reaction.
I am so glad that these three amazing young people were in the right people at the right time, prepared to help someone in need.
This story could easily have been a story of tragedy making the front page of The Sentinel with a family stricken with grief, either the elderly gent or the three young heroes. But it isn't.
Its a story of amazing triumph, risking life to save a life, no fear in the face of fear, true citizenship to save a citizen of this wonderful city.
Did Andy just save a stranger? No. He did more than that. Kidsgrove has a hero, young people have a role model, and his parents have their son, safe.
I offer you my words and admiration. Well done to you all.”
by truepotter
Friday, June 29 2012, 2:39PM
“Very good to hear that recognition is being given to the good side of society for a change. From my experience it is the likes of these three young people who are the norm, not the brain-dead, scrounging, loud-mouthed idiots we read far too much about. Time for The Sentinel to stop reporting what the dead-heads have been upto but simply publish a page with their pictures on and the word idiot and the number of criminal, anti-social or other f***wit activities they've been involved in. It might become some sort of badge of honour for many of them but it would show just how pathetic the courts are at dealing with them. Well done to Grace, Andy and Angelina for being there and doing the right thing.”
by nhsnurse
Friday, June 29 2012, 1:45PM
“Well done! It is nice to have kind and courageous stories”
by Notanumber
Friday, June 29 2012, 1:07PM
“Big thumbs up from The Village.”
by Johntoe
Friday, June 29 2012, 11:55AM
“Great to hear that they are to be given awards for bravery, I'm certain that awards or rewards were the last thing on their minds when they came to this mans aid,
All to often we read negative stories and the inevitable flood of angry comments about youngster on this site, Here we have 3 youngsters worthy of praise, So come on folks a bit of credit where it's due eh?
WELL DONE all 3 of you,”
by valiant1
Friday, June 29 2012, 11:26AM
“Well done to 3 involved.. makes a nice change to hear something positive and glad that the male and his pooch are ok too. This could have been a lot worse.”
by camband
Friday, June 29 2012, 9:56AM
“Nice to read the 'occasional' heart warming story. No hype, just the facts too.”