Boater saved teenager

IT WAS a boater who dragged a teenager out of Gallow's Inn Lock on the Erewash Canal, who was in danger of drowning with severe cramp this week.

There was a gang of teenagers from Ilkeston cooling off by leaping into the full lock when boater Jeff Hinds approached to empty it for passage for his boat. He found a boy yelling out for help, but no one coming to assistance, but Jeff told us he lost no time in pulling him out and massaging his legs that were locked.

Danger

Perhaps because the others in the lock were making noise, and it was only an onlooker who would have realised the danger the boy was in. He however quickly recovered and was adamant that he did not need hospital treatment.

The hot weather at the moment is causing many to use the locks to cool off, but being very deep when full and the water is extremely cold, so it really is not very sensible.

There have already been several deaths reported of drowning in ponds and rivers.