When I was about 17 I took myself out one day to photograph a local beauty spot and to see a newly built bridge.
When I arrived at the river, it was in flood owing to the heavy rain. I found the bridge and took photographs. Then I walked up to the stepping stones which it was to replace.
A girl of about my age was walking across towards my side but one of the stones was uneven and she slipped and fell in.
She was swept downstream past me and I followed, running to keep up.
At one point a tree had fallen in the water and she caught in the trailing branches. The water was slack here.
I waded in and found she was face down, picking her up I walked back to the bank.
I tried the holger - neilson method of resuscitation, which I had leaned from the Boys Brigade, but there was no response, then I remembered a Bible reading about breathing life into the mouth.
So I used this method. She revived but went to sleep.
A policeman who was passing came to see and I was arrested. However I was released later and discharged.
Chris.
24/12/2011