Last updated at 17:58 15 June 2007

A hero died after jumping into a canal to save a drowning boy - but his devastated fiancee says his death was 'needless' after calls for improved safety were allegedly ignored.

Printworker Leigh Pitt, 30, sacrificed his life going to the rescue of nine-year-old Harley Bagnall-Taylor who fell into the deep water while playing outside his home.

The walls of the historic canal in Thamesmead, South-East London, are 15ft high and there is no way to climb out.

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Residents say they were told several years ago it would be filled in or extra safety measures would be introduced but nothing was ever done.

Mr Pitt was in his flat which overlooks the canal, called Broadwater Dock, when he heard the youngster's screams and saw him struggling last Thursday.

He jumped in and kept the boy above the water while other residents - Brian Mahoney, his son Daniel and neighbour Martin Hills - threw a hosepipe to Harley.

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They managed to drag Harley out but when they went to help Leigh, he had disappeared under the water.

Leigh's fiancee, who has asked not to be named, wept as she said: "I am so angry because Leigh should still be here. He was only 30 years old. His death was needless.

"Leigh didn't have a chance of swimming to safety with the boy and there was no way he could pull himself out of the water because there is nothing to grab on to."

She added: "Leigh would not have given it a second's thought before jumping in there to save him. It was the kind of selfless thing he would do and was the reason I loved him so much. He was a hero."

Police Constable Ken Chow, 28, was the first of the emergency services to arrive at the scene. He said: "The boy had been rescued but I was told a man was still in there.

"I jumped in but couldn't see anything. Then I saw the top of a man's head below the water.

"I dived down and was able to pull him up for a short while but I could not tread water with him.

"There was nothing to hold on to and nowhere to go in the canal. I had to let go of him. He drifted away. It was awful."

Harley's father Darren Taylor, 37, paid tribute to Mr Pitt.

He said: "What that man did was unbelievable - he saved my son's life. We are so grateful."

Built by Napoleonic prisoners of war, the canal lies within the London Borough of Greenwich but is the responsibility of property development and investment company Tilfen Land, which has been redeveloping the area.

Residents say they have been campaigning for better safety for 15 years. Brian Mahoney, who helped rescue the boy, said: "We were told it would be filled in and replaced with parkland. Then they said safety would be improved.

"If there had even been a hand rail Leigh would still be alive today."

A spokesman for Tilfen Land said: "The site is securely fenced and clearly signposted with 'Danger - Deep Water' warnings."