Fell into canal after blacking out

Published: Thursday, 27 August 2009

A MAN walking the towpath of the Lancaster Canal near the Lune Aqueduct, blacked out and fell into the water.

Luckily a cyclist was passing who heard the splash and turned around to see John O'Connor fall into the waterway, and hastily went back.

The cyclist, Robin Smethurst, then went into the water seeing the man in difficulty, and dragged him out to safety.

Robin was fish spotting when John walked past saying hello, but seeing him in the water and not moving realised he was in difficulty so acted promptly, most likely saving his life.

An ambulance took John to the Royal Lancaster Infirmary, but he was unarmed and so released. He related:

"I was just walking and blacked out and fell into the water. I couldn't have got out of the water myself. He was very brave and I don't even know the bloke.

"I just want to say thank you because I was very lucky he was there."