Cheryl See with her son, Simon. Picture: Tim Carrafa Source: Herald Sun
A GOOD Samaritan who jumped into the Yarra River to help a mother save her baby from drowning has told of the rescue.
Melbourne woman Cheryl See's 13-month-old son Simon was strapped into his pram when it rolled off the river's edge in Kew last Monday.
Simon was under the water for about five seconds fully submerged face down before his mother was able to jump in and grab him out.
"I pulled the stroller up, not knowing what I would find," she said.
"I cannot describe the relief that poured over me when he started crying because I knew he was OK".
The incident took place at an unfenced stretch of riverbank area near to the Studley Park Boathouse - a popular place for families with young children.
Though Ms See put on the brake, it did not fully engage and the pram rolled about 5m into the water.
Ms See, from Balwyn, was aided by an older male passer-by, who immediately jumped into the waist-deep murky brown water to help pull out the pram.
Ms See told her story in order to contact the gentleman because he walked away before she could properly thank him.
"He was very kind to put himself at risk to get Simon out," she said.
"I just kept thinking, and am still thinking, that I could easily have lost my baby boy."
She was able to thank the man, who wanted to remain anonymous, on 3AW radio today.
"Gary" told 3AW Ms See started screaming "my baby’s fallen in the river” and was crying for help.
"The baby was face down in the water and I was a bit worried, naturally, and I helped Cheryl right at the same time and twisted the pusher around," he said.
"It was very heavy because you know when you take babies out for walks, you’ve got nappy bags on the back on the handles, you’ve got blankets and god knows what, so it weighed a tonne.
"That’s what surprised me, the weight of the pusher, trying to keep the baby’s head out of the water and get the pusher up. But we did, we managed to do so and then other people came along and the baby started crying, which was a good sign. I thought that’s good."
Ms See said to Gary: "Thank you so much for just jumping in and helping me out. I just really appreciate that you had very kind words for me at the time too, just telling me he is OK and I really appreciate all of that."
Gary said "the reward was that the baby is fine".
Ms See also wants to publicly thank others who rallied around to lend a hand at the scene.
"I hope that all parents and carers out there will learn from our experience to be vigilant with children in strollers and prams, as I would hate for the same thing or worse to happen to anyone else," Ms See said.
David Petty, a spokesman for Parks Victoria, urged people to "keep a watchful eye on their children ... particularly around water".
The accident, which is under investigation by Parks Victoria, follows similar incidents here and interstate.
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