'Heroic' holidaymaker saves woman from drowning in River Thames

Hannah Al-Othman28 July 2016

An "heroic" tourist stepped in to save a woman from drowning in the River Thames.

Natalie Harrison, who was visiting the capital from Scotland, saw the woman in the water and put her own safety at risk by leaning over a safety barrier to clutch her hand.

Ms Harrison then held onto the woman until a lifeboat was able to reach her, stopping her from being carried away by the tidal flow of the Thames.

The RNLI described Ms Harrison's actions as "a risky, but utterly selfless and incredible act of public service".

The incident took place on Monday when the woman, thought to be in her late 20s or early 30s, fell into the water by Bankside Pier, near to Shakespeare's Globe theatre.

Heroic: Natalie Harrison stepped in to save the woman
RNLI

Steve King, lifeboat helmsman at Tower RNLI lifeboat station, said: "As a general rule, the RNLI doesn't encourage what Natalie did - if people enter the river or sea to try to rescue others they risk getting into difficulty themselves, which exacerbates the rescue situation for emergency services.

"We normally advise people to raise the alarm and call the Coastguard.

"That said, there's no denying what she did was utterly selfless, an incredible act of public service.

"I believe she was on holiday in London and was nearby when she saw the woman in the water, and acted immediately to help.

"The woman in the river was vulnerable and me and my fellow lifeboat crew members feel Natalie's brave actions may well have saved that woman's life."

Lifeboat crews said the woman was conscious and breathing when she was pulled out of the water, but was left wet, cold and distressed.

Mr King added: "We got in close and one of the staff from the Thames RIB Experience boarded the lifeboat to help us pull the woman from the river.

"If it wasn't for Natalie's heroic efforts, she may have already gone under and we might not have been able to save her."

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