Harry’s River Adventure by Georgina Keating

We are lucky enough to live close to the River Stour so often walk it with our dog Scamp a very little yorkie. During heavy rain it floods over onto the footpath and occasionally it is so bad in places the footpath almost becomes part of the river, so I have always stressed to Harry the dangers of getting too close to the riverbank or running off.

On December the 30th 2017 Harry, Scamp and myself had been to visit my mum stopping at the supermarket on route so I had shopping in my shoulder bag, it was a bitterly cold day but was bright and sunny and had stopped raining, we were both wrapped up in lots of layers.

Halfway home Scamp (who was off the lead) would not come back when called and was very close to the flooded riverbank. I went to the edge of the grass bank and reached to attach Scamp to his lead to pull him away from what he was interested in.

I turned to tell Harry to go back to the path as it was too dangerous, I took a step and lost my footing and fell into the river. To say it was cold was an understatement - the cold hit me so quickly it caught my breath, and I couldn’t speak for a few seconds. I was equally aware I could not touch the bottom of the river or pull myself to the bank as I had no strength and I had nothing for a foot hold on the bank to help me climb. The water was flowing so fast and was so deep I was afraid but equally terrified Harry would jump into save me as we had often talked about falling in and how I would of course save him. What seemed like forever, I finally got my breath back but couldn’t shout for help due to the cold and being dragged from the edge. I had let go of Scamp, but my clothes and bag were dragging me under and although I can swim, I'm not a strong swimmer. I was aware there were not many people about due to how cold it was and the time of day, I was telling Harry he needed to call for help but he had sat down on the muddy wet bank and was holding onto me. I knew he was scared but one thing he has never done is shout and I needed him to as my phone was in my pocket. I couldn’t instruct him to phone for help (he was not able to use a mobile at the time – something I have since spent hours teaching him how to do).

I knew he wasn’t shouting loud enough but equally knew I could not hold on much longer. I must have sounded different to Harry as I begged him to shout louder and louder, I said he had to let go and find someone but he wouldn't so I kept saying you need to shout louder Harry please I can’t hold on, he tried so hard to shout. I could hear people talking and laughing now I said Harry shout please and he managed to call out, I remember thinking it’s not loud enough when he suddenly shouted, “My mum, my mum she’s in the river” To my relief someone ran over, well an elderly couple in fact, I just looked at them and said please don’t leave. The two people grabbed each of my arms and pulled shouting for help at the same time, others ran over and helped to pull me out. For some reason I said I was fine and could walk home but their kindness stayed with Harry for a few months and he would say things they had said like, the one two three heave as they dragged me out (LOL) or the come to my house I’ll make tea and you can call someone, or the take my bag for your stuff and have my coat, all so very kind and for a while it was all Harry talked about it definitely scared him.

I decided the school needed to know as Harry had been doing the Duke of Edinburgh Award and they had taught him the importance of staying with the person injured and calling for help. The school were equally as proud of him and called the Kent Police who came into school and awarded Harry a medal for bravery, a huge chocolate cake and a certificate. They had asked what sweets he would like but I said a cake would be so much better as he loves a cup of tea and a slice of cake. Scamp got one too for being no help whatsoever much to Harry’s amusement as Scamp had run off and had been found by another family and returned to me as I stood frozen on the riverbank.

Harry’s bravery that day was something I never thought would be possible and although he has never shouted since and now never mentions it (not even when we are down the river) I know if he hadn’t had found his big voice that day I would have had to let go and go with the flow of the river until I either got to a shallow part a lot further down or drowned. The most frightening part for me is would Harry have jumped in or just stayed on the bank and for how long? I am so proud and grateful for Harry.