Daily Record

Saving old boss wasn’t heroic .. it was humane

Man who pulled Bill from a canal refuses praise for his quick thinking This is your time, enjoy it

- JAMES MONCUR j.moncur@dailyrecor­d.co.uk

A SELFLESS rescuer has told how he saved a suicidal man from drowning in a canal – only to discover he was his former boss.

Brian McKenzie didn’t hesitate when he heard screams outside his home in the early hours last Saturday.

The 50-year-old raced to the Caledonian Canal in Inverness, where he was stunned to recognise the drowning man as his friend and ex-site foreman, Bill Anderson.

We told last Monday how Bill, 71, had posted a “goodbye” message on Facebook before jumping into the freezing water in a bid to escape from personal problems.

Brian yesterday played down his actions and said he did not want anyone to call him a hero.

He admitted the incident had more meaning because he is facing his own battle with depression and had even attempted suicide himself.

He said: “What I did was not heroic, it was humane. It was not a great feat.

“I was listening to the radio very early on Saturday morning and I heard a noise. It was obvious someone was in trouble so I went to help them.

“When I got to the canal, it was well lit and I could see the person struggling in the water. I got there just in time.

“I threw a lifebelt to him and helped drag him to the side before holding on to his belt to stop him going under again.

“It was then I realised I knew him – he was an old boss of mine from when I worked concreting the roads.”

Non-swimmer Bill posted the message to his family and friends on Facebook before going to drown himself. He wrote: “For those that read this post, I now say bon voyage as I slip away beneath the murky waters to, I hope, a far better place.”

Brian said: “Bill was such a strong man, it was very surprising he ended up in this situation. I always remembered him as a fair boss who was liked by everybody.”

The incident has had a deeper impact on Brian, who is also battling depression.

He added: “I’ve been hit really hard in recent years. I’ve suffered a number of traumas and they had a huge impact.

“I locked myself in my house and refused to answer the door or phone for months on end. I only went shopping in the middle of the night to avoid bumping into people.

“It got so bad that I attempted to take my own life by swallowing pills.” Brian said that he has recently seen light at the end of the tunnel. He added: “I know exactly how Bill felt on Saturday, I’ve been there myself.

“I lost my job and everything else but I’m here because of the support of friends. They got me help and I could talk about my issues.

“My advice to anyone considerin­g harming themselves is life is too important, keep going and get any help you can.” Friend sees troubled social media Bill’s desperate and rescues goodbye n him from canal suic From holidays to home improvemen­ts or just enjoying day to day life more – if you feel you could be getting more out of your retirement years, a Legal & General Lifetime Mortgage could help. It’s a loan that’s secured against your home. It lets you release some of the money tied up in your home – without having to move – as tax-free cash.

 ??  ?? HUMBLE Brian beside the canal where he saved Bill from drowning. Picture: Peter Jolly GRATEFUL Bill, and our story last week
HUMBLE Brian beside the canal where he saved Bill from drowning. Picture: Peter Jolly GRATEFUL Bill, and our story last week

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