Reunion on cards after 44 years for woman who saved boy’s life
AUS-BASED businessman who spent a lifetime searching for the woman who saved his life as a child has finally found her.
The Post reported last week how Andy Steggles, who now lives in Washington DC, was keen to track down Anne Morgan (née Barley) and Peter Owen, who saved him from drowning.
They had dragged a lifeless Mr Steggles from Hatchford Brook, Chelmsley Wood on May 17, 1973.
Now Mr Steggles has made an emotional call to Mrs Morgan, the young mother who performed the kiss-of-life on him after she was tracked down to Hyde, in Cheshire – her home since 1975.
The second hero, Peter Owen, who pulled the three-year-old from the brook has yet to be found.
Both received Royal Humane Society awards for their actions.
“It was wonderful hearing from Andy,” said great-grandmother Mrs Morgan, now 75.
“Over the years, I’ve often thought about him and wondered how he’s getting on. I remember this blond, curly-haired lad.”
Mr Steggles intends to meet the Good Samaritan in the summer, with his mother Carolyn, who lives in Gloucester.
The father-of-four has lived in America since 1999 and is head of software company Higher Logic, which has a 165-strong workforce and three offices.
Mrs Morgan, originally from Marston Green, vividly remembered the moment she used first aid skill gained in the Guides to bring Mr Steggles, who was then Andy Delaney, back from the brink.
“I went there to meet a friend and spotted her waving frantically,” she says. “Peter had already pulled the little boy out. I came down and we both jumped on him.
“He was gone. He was a bluegrey colour and there was no sign of anything. To all intents and purposes, he was gone.
“I put my fingers in his mouth to keep his tongue down and, when he came round, he bit them.
“The police constable came before the ambulance and put him in the recovery position.”
Mr Steggles, 47, was overjoyed after talking to Mrs Morgan after a 20-year search.
He recalled vividly how the accident happened.
“My brother and I were playing in the back garden, which was fenced in.
“Somehow, I myself out and brook.
“I went to cross the tiny waterfall. I took my boots off and dropped one which went into the water.
“I then tried to climb down the edge and fell in, somehow catching my head under a branch.
“I eventually stopped breathing and floated down the river.”
Mr Steggles added: “I was never really sure what happened but Anne filled in some blanks,” he revealed. “She said she might have missed me if it wasn’t for Peter, who saw me and jumped in the river and dragged me out.
“She said that my head was stuck under a log and I was face down in the water, not moving.
“When they pulled me out, I wasn’t breathing and had no pulse. She said I was completely blue.
“Peter worked on my chest while Anne gave me the kiss-of-life. I eventually coughed up a load of water and started breathing before flatlining again shortly afterwards.
“They managed to bring me back again and then the police arrived. They put me in the recovery position while they waited for the ambulance.”
He added: “She said how she has never forgotten the day or the event and has thought of it often over the years, wondering whatever became of me.
“I owe her and Peter a huge debt of gratitude which I can never repay. I can’t wait to meet Anne in person to tell them how thankful I am for
what she did.” managed ran down to to let the