Hero asylum seekers save man's life after seeing him floating face down in river
A group of heroic asylum seekers saved a man’s life after spotting him floating face down in a river.
The shocking incident unfolded in Derby city centre, along the River Derwent, when the unnamed man was seen face down and struggling in the water around 3.20pm on Friday 11 August. But thankfully for him a group of refugees, who had been in the area at the time, raced to his aid.
Ayman Abdullah, Hani Ibrahim, Motasim Ali, Mohamed (kitchen volunteer) and Muhammad (who saved the man) didn't hesitate when they saw the man in the water.
The group, said to be from Afghanistan and Somalia, were able to pull him out and carry the man to safety. The man who dragged him out the water and to safety was later confirmed to have served in the Afghanistan army. Photos captured the heroic rescue of the man, who had a cut and was bleeding.
The group rescued the man and carried him to safety (Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity)
The incident occurred inside the Longbridge Weir Hydro Power House - which was fenced off (Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity)The incident occurred within the vicinity of the Longbridge Weir Hydro Power House - an electric hydro station which generates electricity to power Derby's Council House and other buildings nearby. The structure, due to its electricity supply, is protected by a perimeter fence and warnings signs on the fence say: "No unauthorised access. Danger: Deep and turbulent water. Caution: machinery may start without warning."
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It is unclear how or why the man ended up in the water, DerbyshireLive reported. Julie James, volunteer organiser at the Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity charity, which provides aid and support for asylum seekers in the city. She confirmed that the group of rescuers was made up of asylum seekers
She said: "One of the men involved, Mohamed, volunteers in our kitchen. He told us that the man who dragged the man out of the water is an Afghan refugee. He lives in one of the hotels in Long Eaton and was once in the Afghan army. It's his instinct to save people, no matter how much danger he's putting himself in."
The asylum seekers involved in the man's rescue. Left to right: Ayman Abdullah, Hani Ibrahim, Motasim Ali, Mohamed (kitchen volunteer), Muhammad (who saved the man) and Gizem (age 13, translator) (Derbyshire Refugee Solidarity)She continued: "The rest of the men came into the charity on Saturday and were really surprised that we were greeting them and shaking their hands and hugging them. They have no idea that we consider them to have saved that man's life.
"Volunteering alongside asylum seekers for eight years, we know the dangerous, traumatic and terrifying experiences that many of them have survived. That they remain good, kind and generous people is amazing. To anyone who has a negative opinion of asylum seekers, DRS extends an open invitation to visit us anytime, meet our volunteers, have a cuppa and a chat. We are sure you will change your mind."
The condition of the man pulled from the water is unknown, but it is understood he is alive. The police and the ambulance service were both called to the scene and it is understood the man was taken to hospital.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire police said: "Officers were called to reports of a man in the River Derwent at the River Gardens in Derby city centre at 3.20pm on Friday 11 August. When officers arrived at the scene the man had been helped from the water by members of the public and was left in the care of the ambulance service."
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