A narrow escape

Hertfordshire Mercury, 29th August 1914

Transcript

At Hertford, a 6 year old boy, the son of Alfred Ansell, of 8 Dolphin Yard, had a narrow escape from being drowned in the River Lee on the Monday.  When he had fallen into the river at the bottom of Dolphin Yard, where there is 12 feet of water, a man named George Barker, who was on Adam’s Wharf opposite, heard a cry and a splash and, on looking over, could see a child’s head in the water.  He punted across, but the child had disappeared.

William Costin, who was on Stokes Wharf opposite, undressed, swam across the river, and dived to the bottom but could not see the child.  Eventually, drags were obtained and the boy was found entangled in the weeds.  With the assistance of a bargeman named Akers, the lad was got to the bank where artificial respiration commenced.

By this time, the police had arrived.  For two hours, Police Constables Winchester, Crisford, Pitcher, Williamson and Capon, together with Police Sergeant Hadder, took it in turn to apply restorative measures, under the guidance of Doctor Hall and, at last, signs of life were observed.

The boy was then taken home and has since recovered.

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