Phil traces boy whose life he saved

Mark Annett, now 44 and living with his three children in Bratislava, Slovakia

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PHIL Ridley often wondered what had happened to the little boy he saved from drowning on holiday nearly 40 years ago.

Former Hulme Grammar pupil Phil was 13 when he saved six-year-old Mark Annett’s life in a French swimming pool in 1978. Phil, who now lives in Ipswich, dragged Mark to the surface before he was hauled out for a nearby doctor to revive the unconscious youngster.

Phil went on to receive the Chief Scout’s Commendation for Meritorious Conduct for his courage and bravery - but has always since remained curious to know what happened to the little boy from Norfolk. His only clue was a Chronicle newspaper cutting of the original story.

Phil revealed the story to colleagues at Suffolk Coastal and Waveney District Council and days later - following a front page story in the local newspapers, readers led Phil to Mark’s mum Jane in Oxford. She contacted her son, now a 44-year-old father-of-three living in Bratislava, Slovakia.

“It is fantastic to hear he is well,” said Mark. the pair have contacted each other by email but a reunion might have to wait a couple of months.

“I have wondered about the boy who saved me as I obviously owe him my life,” said Mark.

“It is something I have always had in the back of my mind. I am very grateful he fished me out of the pool.”

“My big sister was in the deep end playing that day and I edged my way towards them to join in. I remember trying to keep my head above the water. I bobbed under two or three times and the last time I simply sank. The next thing I remember is being held upside down as I came round.”

Mark’s mum Jane said she was overwhelmed with gratitude for Phil’s heroism: “I just froze,” she said. “He was a very brave child as the pool was 10ft-12ft deep.

Phil’s dad Gordon (72), who lives in Shaw, said it’s an amazing end to an incredible tale.

“We didn’t know what had happened until Phil told us,” said Gordon. “It was incredible. We were very proud.