The video will start in 8 Cancel

Day or night, you won't miss a story with the Liverpool Echo newsletter Sign me up now Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

A group of heroic schoolboys rescued a mum and her five-month-old baby from a canal after they fell in trying to escape from swans.

The boys, aged between 11 and 14, sprang into action at Spike Island in West Bank, Widnes, after hearing the calls of four-year-old Reya Wang.

Mum Lifei and baby sister Eva, five months, had plunged into the water after being chased by swans at around 4.30pm on December 7.

Lifei told how the pram, carrying her daughter Eva, rolled into the canal after the family were chased by swans and she jumped in after it.

However, although she can swim, she began to struggle after trying to save her baby and being weighed down by her clothing.

(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

Joe Draycott, Campbell Law, Ethan Melvin, Jacob Potter, Ellis Hulme and McAuley Maguire, were playing football nearby and came to the stricken mum and daughter's aid.

Joe told the ECHO how the boys heard the cries of little Reya, and sprinted over to help, while calling 999.

Ethan Melvin, 14, heaved the baby from the water - overcoming the force of the soaked layers of winter clothing weighing her down.

He then spotted tiny Eva was "sputtering" and realised he needed to perform CPR - something he had learned in school - before paramedics took over when they arrived.

At Widnes Police Station this evening, watched by proud parents and police, the schoolboys were presented with a bravery award from Chief Inspector Catherine Pritchard.

(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

At the award ceremony four-year-old Reya Wang even presented the boys with presents from the grateful family.

Little Reya also received an award and the gratitude of the police for alerting the boys and showing them where they were needed.

Chief inspector Pritchard, of Cheshire police , said: "I know the parents are very proud.

"Their night wouldn't be nothing if it wasn't for the boys' quick thinking.

"You were just fabulous on the night.

"And to even think about giving CPR is amazing.

"So thank you for making Widnes a safer place and I feel very proud to be working here knowing there are people like you."

When Reya appeared calling in "distress", Joe said the boys all did their bit.

He said: "We were all just playing football, the girl ran up crying and everything just clicked into place.

"It was like we knew exactly what to do.

He added: "We all arranged everyone's role, it was that easy, it seemed we knew it."

Ethan's mum Susan said: "They’re a nice group of friends.

"They’ve never come across anything like this before.

(Image: Colin Lane/Liverpool Echo)

"She [the mum] couldn’t lift her out. So together they have got the baby out and then got the mum out.

"It shook them up but it’s a better than if no-one else was there."

Their "courageous" actions have also been praised by their school, Saints Peter And Paul Catholic College.

Commenting on the boy’s bravery, Danielle Scott, principal, said: "We are incredibly proud of Ethan, Campbell and Joe – their quick thinking helped to prevent a potential tragedy.

(Image: liverpoolecho/colinlane)

"The courage that they showed is a testament to their characters and we hope that their actions inspire others to always help out those in need.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the mother and children. We hope that they are recovering well."

The boys’ cool-headed actions has previously been praised by Sgt Sarah Kirkbridge.

She said: "I would like to thank the boys for helping to rescue the woman and her baby.

"Their quick thinking and bravery prevented this incident from becoming far more serious.

"The mother also did a great job in keeping her baby dry despite its pram having rolled into the cold water."

The event was suggested by Sergeant Rob Anderson, of Widnes Local Policing Unit.