Award for boy rescue paramedics

Colleagues said the pair showed bravery above and beyond normal duty

Two paramedics who saved an eight-year-old boy who was trapped and sinking in mud in an estuary have been praised for saving his life.

Rhyl-based Stephen Dowber and Karen Wilby pulled the youngster from the Elwy Estuary, near Marine Lake.

The pair had to dig the child, who was scared and mildly hypothermic and had sunk up to his waist, from the mud.

They were nominated for the Welsh Ambulance Service team award by their colleagues following June's rescue.

Mr Dowber said that the pair found themselves first on scene and made their way direct to were the boy was trapped and sinking.

"Karen and I had to go on foot a mile to reach the lad, carrying what equipment we could as we didn't know if we might have to resuscitate him by the time we got there," he said.

"As we reached him we saw that the mud was just above his waist and he was slowly sinking, very scared and midly hypothermic."

Mr Dowber said he went in first to try and dig and lift the boy out.

"I went into what could only be described as difficult conditions and realised I couldn't get him out on my own, so Karen joined me and together thanks to team work we both managed to carry him between us through the mud and back onto land."

The boy was then taken to hospital by their colleagues.

Fellow paramedic Laurence Neville, who nominated them for the award, said: "I believe their quick response averted an already dangerous situation becoming worse.

"They both showed bravery above and beyond the normal call of duty."