A mum has praised the ‘incredible’ team at Waterside Pool in Ryde after her young son’s pram rolled into the Canoe Lake while they were feeding the ducks – prompting a dramatic rescue and a reminder of the risks around open water.
The incident happened at around 14:00 on Tuesday (29th October) when the brakes on the pram are said to have failed, causing it – with the child strapped inside – to roll down the embankment and submerge in the lake.
The mum, along with a friend, jumped into the water without hesitation and successfully pulled the young child to safety. All 3 were left visibly shaken and cold after the ordeal and made their way to the nearby Waterside Pool for help.
Staff at the swimming pool quickly came to the family’s aid, offering towels, toiletries, and a hot shower to warm up the child. They also rinsed off the pram, salvaged belongings from underneath it, and looked after 2 other children who were present.
Speaking about the shocking incident, the thankful mum has said:
“My first thoughts were to run to the swimming pool with my son to ask for a towel to be able to warm him up. The team were incredible, they gave lots of towels, gave me shower gel to give my son a shower and clean/warm him up.
“They emptied the pram that was full of all our stuff underneath and bagged it up and also rinsed the pram off outside whilst also entertaining the two other children we had with us with lollipops and crisps and talking to them.
“Again, thank you so much to everyone who was present and helped us during this quite eventful moment. It is very much appreciated and they all deserve to be recognised for how quick they were to help in every way possible!”
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The mother’s account has prompted local concern about safety around the Canoe Lake, particularly during the colder months when conditions around the lake can be wet and slippery. The unexpected incident has served as a stark reminder of how quickly accidents can occur around open water, even in familiar family spots.
Further information on open water safety can be found at https://www.rlss.org.uk/pages/category/open-water-safety-tips.
