Oxford's heroes
LMH WAS WITNESS to a feat of heroic enterprise late on Friday night as three members of the college rescued a drowning woman from the river Cherwell. The woman, who has asked not to be named, had been attending a party when she slipped into the river while walking near Bardwell Road. Despite attempts to rescue her, the strong current swept her 70-80 metres downstream, where she luckily managed to grab hold of a branch. Meanwhile, two guests at the party had attempted to reach her, but had been overturned, and so also had to be rescued.
LMH porter Ian Anderson was alerted to the situation, and enlisted the help of three members of the third year at the college. Joris Nathanson, Paul Richmond and Andrew Brian all rushed through the waterlogged back lawns of LMH to reach the woman. The trio waded shin-deep through the grounds, and eventually heard the woman's screams. Richmond was the first to jump into the water, despite the air temperature of -2 Celsius and limited visibility. He was unable to persuade her to let go of the branch, because she was in a state of shock, so he called to Nathanson, who then waded out into the waist-deep water, and together they pulled her to the bank. Meanwhile Brian tried to attract the attention of a police helicopter that was circling overhead.
The woman was carried to the LMH tennis courts, where the men wrapped her in their clothes in an attempt to keep her warm. The ambulance had yet to arrive on the scene, as they remained at the Cherwell boat-house dealing with the two other guests. Eventually the woman was picked up and taken to hospital, suffering from hypothermia, and drifting in and out of consciousness. Inspector Eugene Gratwohl of Thames Valley Police said "Having spent a long time in the cold water, I doubt she could have remained conscious for much longer and would have undoubtedly succumbed to the cold." He also praised Paul Richmond particularly for his bravery and said: "She is an extremely lucky woman. There is no doubt that, had the three students not acted quickly, then the woman would have perished."
The woman was discharged from hospital on Saturday morning, still in a state of shock, but out of danger. The woman and her husband visited LMH on Sunday to personally thank Joris Nathanson, Paul Richmond and Andrew Brian for their brave rescue. Nathanson subsequently remarked of the event: "What Paul Richmond did was the bravest thing I have ever seen." Inspector Gratwohl has recommended the trio be nominated for a Chief Constable's Commendation for their bravery.
15th Feb 2001