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Teenage girls describe moment they rescued pensioner kicked into River Mersey
‘He was in a bad state… he had hold of my hand and he was saying ‘can you help me?”
The teenage girls who rescued a pensioner who was kicked into the River Mersey have spoken out about the incident.
The school girls managed to get the elderly man out of the river after he was knocked in by several youths on Sunday.
Chloe Woods and Ellie Hughes were walking past the river as it flows behind the Riverside Retail Park in Warrington when they heard someone shout for help.
The girls headed to the riverbank before pulling the shaken 74-year-old from the Mersey, cleaning the blood off his face.
Shocking footage of the incident was revealed yesterday, showing one youth kicking the pensioner in the back.
In the clip one teen is seen approaching the elderly victim from behind before fly-kicking the OAP in the back while his friend filmed the attack.
It was confirmed yesterday that a 15-year-old has been arrested in relation to the incident.
Cheshire Police revealed that a 15 year-old boy had been arrested on suspicion of assault and possession with intent to supply cannabis – he’s now been released with no further action for the assault, but is still under investigation for the cannabis charge.
Another 15-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of assault this morning, Thursday April 29th, and remains in custody for questioning.
Police have also charged an 18-year-old man in connection with the assault, who’s been bailed to appear at Warrington Magistrates Court on May 19th.
Describing the incident, Chloe told ITV News: “We were walking past and we heard these people going, ‘help, there’s a man there’, so me and Ellie quickly saw him and just dropped our stuff and went and quickly helped him and pulled him out of the river.
“He was in a bad state. He was hanging on to a branch, he had hold of my hand and he was saying ‘can you help me?’
“I asked him if he wanted any help but he said no for an ambulance so we just helped him out and cleaned him up and all the blood off his face.”
According to the girls the man told them he had ‘just wanted to go fishing on a sunny day’, before thanking the girls for their help and walking home to his family.
Ellie said: “We were making sure he was alright, asking how far he had to walk, how far until he got home.”
Ellie said she was shocked by the incident, adding: “When it happened I was very shocked and disgusted that people would go around doing that to people, an elderly man as well – it’s not right.
“You’re meant to respect elder people and help them”.
Police are still appealing for information and witnesses, and if you have any info you’re urged to contact the police on 101 quoting IML 973153, or alternatively you can call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.