David McNeill awarded a Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation for life saving

David’s actions saved the life a woman struggling to stay afloat in the water

David McNeill has been awarded a Royal Humane Society Certificate of Commendation after saving the life of a woman who ran into difficulties in the water.

The presentation to David was made by British Rowing’s Honorary Rowing Safety Adviser, Stephen Worley at York City RC during the during the York Small Boats Head.

David’s was a calm, controlled, intelligent rescue. He noticed some ripples on the water below the embankment, checked and found a woman in the water about five metres off the landing steps. A backpack and coat had been left on the steps and she was fully clothed and struggling to stay afloat. David rushed to the water’s edge and shouted, encouraging the woman to swim back to the shore, he extended his arm but could not reach her. He then walked into the water until it was knee deep and was able to reach the woman and pull her in. By this stage the woman was sinking but still conscious.

The woman was emotionally distressed and David provided reassurance and some Mental Health First Aid while warming and called the emergency services.

Each year in the UK, about 200 take their own lives by drowning. It is not unusual for rowers to rescue people from the water and, unfortunately, it is not unknown for rowers to find bodies in the water.

You may find yourself in a position to help by starting a conversation with anyone who appears to be at risk.  There is information on how to do this in the Safety-Alert-Small-Talk-Saves-Lives.pdf.

“I am so glad I was in the right place at the right time to help this young lady,” said David after accepting the award.

“My training and service in the British Army, and my work as a British Rowing Coach, gave me the skills and the confidence to rescue someone from the water safely and to give them both the physical and mental First Aid required.

“When I saw this woman in the water, there were plenty of people around, but nobody came to her aid or to help me. I think they were fearful of not knowing what to do, which makes the point about the value of getting First Aid training.

“My own training meant I acted almost on instinct. I didn’t have to think, I immediately knew I had to bring her to safety without risk to myself, and then to care for her until the emergency services arrived.  The Ambulance Service and the North Yorkshire Police were amazing – again showing that it you have the training you can make a big difference.

“The training gives the confidence; if more of those on the bank that day had received training, this woman could have had ten people to help her, not just one. I hope some of those people might have been prompted to get training because of what they saw that day.

“I also think it demonstrates that there are opportunities every day in our lives where we might be able to help someone in need.  A little word of reassurance or just asking this woman a question might have been enough to give her enough to not feel like she wanted to take such a drastic step and try to take her life.”

The Royal Humane Society is a charity that grants awards for acts of bravery in the saving of human life.  The Society was founded in 1774.  The Society recognises people who have contributed to the saving or attempted saving of life, though they may not have put their own life at risk. The Certificate of Commendation is awarded to people who have made a significant contribution to the saving or attempted saving of a life, though their own life was not necessarily at risk.