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| Charity biker saves boys in river | Charity biker saves boys in river |
| (1 day later) | |
| A cyclist on a charity ride risked his life to plunge into the River Taff to help save two young boys from drowning. | A cyclist on a charity ride risked his life to plunge into the River Taff to help save two young boys from drowning. |
| David Harding, 43, from Bassaleg near Newport, was cycling downstream of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when he heard a cry of distress. | David Harding, 43, from Bassaleg near Newport, was cycling downstream of the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff when he heard a cry of distress. |
| The father-of-three jumped into the River Taff and saved the younger boy before shouting to a passing water taxi to help the older one. | |
| Both boys, aged four and seven, survived and were taken to hospital. | Both boys, aged four and seven, survived and were taken to hospital. |
| Mr Harding was nearing the end of a 55-mile charity cycle ride from Brecon for the Ty Hafan children's hospice with a group of other cyclists, including his wife Sally. | Mr Harding was nearing the end of a 55-mile charity cycle ride from Brecon for the Ty Hafan children's hospice with a group of other cyclists, including his wife Sally. |
| He was at the back of the group as they cycled close to the River Taff near Cardiff city centre when he heard a child screaming. | He was at the back of the group as they cycled close to the River Taff near Cardiff city centre when he heard a child screaming. |
| "I stopped, turned round and went back expecting to see the child looking for a toy boat that was sailing down the river or something," he said. | "I stopped, turned round and went back expecting to see the child looking for a toy boat that was sailing down the river or something," he said. |
| "What I saw were two boys flapping around in the water and drowning."The two-man crew of the water taxi helped rescue the two boys | "What I saw were two boys flapping around in the water and drowning."The two-man crew of the water taxi helped rescue the two boys |
| Mr Harding jumped into the river, which was swollen from heavy rainfall. | Mr Harding jumped into the river, which was swollen from heavy rainfall. |
| "I swam to catch them up but by the time I got to them, one was completely submerged, unconscious, and the other was distressed and trying to breathe. | "I swam to catch them up but by the time I got to them, one was completely submerged, unconscious, and the other was distressed and trying to breathe. |
| "They were 20ft from the bank, maybe more, maybe 25ft. | "They were 20ft from the bank, maybe more, maybe 25ft. |
| "I grabbed the younger of the two who was unconscious. He was limp, cold. | "I grabbed the younger of the two who was unconscious. He was limp, cold. |
| "The other child was sort of semi-conscious and had drifted further down so I couldn't reach him." | "The other child was sort of semi-conscious and had drifted further down so I couldn't reach him." |
| But help was at hand as Mr Harding shouted to a water taxi travelling upstream which pulled the child out of the water. | But help was at hand as Mr Harding shouted to a water taxi travelling upstream which pulled the child out of the water. |
| Mr Harding and the younger child, to whom he was giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation close to the river bank, were also rescued by the Cardiff Aquabus water taxi. | Mr Harding and the younger child, to whom he was giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation close to the river bank, were also rescued by the Cardiff Aquabus water taxi. |
| He said the two-man crew on the boat helped revive both boys while they made their way to a nearby jetty where a paramedic was waiting. | He said the two-man crew on the boat helped revive both boys while they made their way to a nearby jetty where a paramedic was waiting. |
| Putting yourself at risk is not to be recommended but in a life and death situation with children, we would say "well done" and thank him Welsh Ambulance Service | Putting yourself at risk is not to be recommended but in a life and death situation with children, we would say "well done" and thank him Welsh Ambulance Service |
| The older child's condition had now improved while the younger child was showing signs of improvement. | The older child's condition had now improved while the younger child was showing signs of improvement. |
| They were both taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. | They were both taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff. |
| The hospital said it was unable to comment on their conditions due to confidentiality but the ambulance service said their conditions were not life threatening. | The hospital said it was unable to comment on their conditions due to confidentiality but the ambulance service said their conditions were not life threatening. |
| Mr Harding said he believed the two children were brothers. | Mr Harding said he believed the two children were brothers. |
| "The mother ran up and gave me a big hug on the river bank, she was very grateful," he said. | "The mother ran up and gave me a big hug on the river bank, she was very grateful," he said. |
| It is not known how the children came to be in the water but Mr Harding said he believed the older child had jumped in to try to save the other. | It is not known how the children came to be in the water but Mr Harding said he believed the older child had jumped in to try to save the other. |
| After his rescue efforts, Mr Harding jumped back on his bike and finished the cycle course. | After his rescue efforts, Mr Harding jumped back on his bike and finished the cycle course. |
| A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "Putting yourself at risk is not to be recommended but in a life and death situation with children, we would say 'well done' and thank him for the concern and care he took in helping save the lives of two children. | A spokesman for the ambulance service said: "Putting yourself at risk is not to be recommended but in a life and death situation with children, we would say 'well done' and thank him for the concern and care he took in helping save the lives of two children. |
| Very proud | Very proud |
| "In any weather, rivers aren't the safest of places and with the onset of the weather, we would just implore children and people of all ages to steer clear of fast-flowing rivers and water." | "In any weather, rivers aren't the safest of places and with the onset of the weather, we would just implore children and people of all ages to steer clear of fast-flowing rivers and water." |
| Mr Harding, who works in waste management, said: "It was that instinct when you hear a cry, you react and I'm just so grateful I went back." | Mr Harding, who works in waste management, said: "It was that instinct when you hear a cry, you react and I'm just so grateful I went back." |
| He added that the outcome could have been very different if it had not been for the efforts of the crew on the water taxi. | He added that the outcome could have been very different if it had not been for the efforts of the crew on the water taxi. |
| Director of Cardiff Aquabus Steve Woodward said he was very proud of the efforts of skipper Danny Rees and crew member Colin Brookes. | Director of Cardiff Aquabus Steve Woodward said he was very proud of the efforts of skipper Danny Rees and crew member Colin Brookes. |
| "We only go up and down the river once every hour, so they only had two chances," said Mr Woodward. | "We only go up and down the river once every hour, so they only had two chances," said Mr Woodward. |
| "It was very lucky circumstances that they were coming along the river and saw the cyclist jump in. | "It was very lucky circumstances that they were coming along the river and saw the cyclist jump in. |
| "I'm very proud of them with the way they co-ordinated the emergency services. It was a really good show of responsibility on the water." | "I'm very proud of them with the way they co-ordinated the emergency services. It was a really good show of responsibility on the water." |