Spike Island is an area of open parkland situated between the banks of the Mersey Estuary and the Sankey canal and was the site for lifesaving heroics, one cold December day. 

Joe Draycott, Campbell Law and Ethan Melvin were playing football when they were approached by a little girl asking for help. Following her back towards the canal, the boys quickly noticed a woman in the water, clinging to the side, pram in the water and young baby in her free arm.  

Drawing on their first aid and CPR training learned at school, they knew exactly what to do next. Noticing the baby wasn’t breathing, Ethan started CPR while Joe called the emergency services and Campbell looked after the mother and elder daughter, calming them down and keeping them warm until the paramedics arrived.  

What started as an innocent trip out to feed the ducks had nearly ended in tragedy, after hungry swans had frightened the older girl, causing mum to take evasive action and losing control of the pram. Mercifully, everyone has made a full recovery and the boys themselves, have been rightly hailed as heroes, by locals and the media alike. 

Only 14-years-old at the time, the three young men were each awarded the RLSS UK  ‘Young Person’s Certificate of Commendation’ in a presentation by RLSS UK Ambassador for the North West, Mike Wardle. The ‘Young Person’s Certificate of Commendation’ is dedicated to marking the exceptional lifesaving actions of a person under 18-years-old.

Mike Wardle who said at the time: 

“I know I speak for the RLSS UK Liverpool and District Branch and the wider Charity as a whole when I say that what you lads did was really heroic. 

“An accident like that could’ve happened to any one of us here, at any time. You took what you knew, had the confidence to use those skills, kept yourselves safe and crucially, saved a life.  

“Someone asked you for help and you answered, that is very embodiment of what RLSS UK stands for and I feel incredibly privileged to be presenting your certificates today.” 

Whilst the three young men have been awarded as first responders, RLSS UK is also keen to acknowledge the help and support on the day from the other boys present: Ellis Hume, McCauley Maguire, Tyler Moses and Jacob Potter who, at only 10-years-old at the time, were the youngest member of the group, all of whom were instrumental in supporting the family and the attendant emergency services. 

BBC Breakfast Appearance

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