MSP saves man, 81, in canal rescue
A PENSIONER was rescued from a canal by a hero MSP who raced to pull him out of the water.
Bill Watson, 81, was cycling home when he lost his balance and ended up in the Forth and Clyde.
He tried to grip on to the embankment but was unable to pull himself out of the water.
He was rescued by Ivan McKee, Glasgow Provan SNP MSP, who heard his screams for help while he was out running.
Bill said: “He got me out the water. I don’t know how much longer I could have held on there without being pulled under.”
He was taken to the Queen Elizabeth hospital and treated for hypothermia.
McKee said some sections under bridges should have more barriers where the path narrows to keep people safe. BREAKFAST weather presenter Carol Kirkwood celebrated 20 years at the BBC with her trademark smile and a compilation of the best moments throughout her career. They included a scene where, while presenting the weather on a beach, a dog relieves itself in the background, a forecast from a whiteout snowstorm and a snippet where she tussles with a puppet at Wimbledon. As part of the celebrations yesterday, the BBC revealed the amount of fan mail that arrives for the divorced, Highland-born presenter daily – a mailbag full. Breakfast anchor Dan Walker said Carol has now presented the weather “more than 17,000 times”. Carol was shown getting up to all sorts of activities during her years on air – including driving a ceramic bathtub car and co-presenting with an assortment of puppets. Carol, 55, said: “It doesn’t feel like it’s been 20 years, it feels more like 20 minutes.” She also added that the hardest part about her job is “getting up at quarterto-three.” Dan and co-host Louise Minchin read out some of the comments sent in by viewers. Dan read: “Carol has the best smile and the loveliest attitude every morning. “She’s been around an awfully long time and she’s still the best in the business.” Louise said: “Carol’s smile is contagious. BY KEITH McLEOD Let’s look forward to 20 more years.”
On Twitter, one fan said: “Carol, congrats on bringing us viewers great weather forecasts over 20 years with that warm smile and gorgeous laugh. Keep doing what you’re doing for many years to come. Best lady weather forecaster on the BBC.”
Another said: “Congratulations Carol Kirkwood, 20 years service, well done x.”
The former pupil of Lochaber High School, Fort William, tweeted: “Thank you so much for your lovely comments.
“I can’t believe I have had the pleasure of presenting the weather on @BBCBreakfast for the last 20 years. Where has that time gone? I love my job and work with the loveliest people on the planet, both in front of and behind the camera.”
In 2015, Carol took part in Strictly Come Dancing where she was knocked out in the seventh week.
She has won the Television and Radio Industry Club award five times.
Carol and husband Jimmy Kirkwood divorced 10 years ago.
And she’s been coy about a new man in her life.
She was quoted saying: “It’d be nice to be seeing somebody but it’s not the be all and end all.”
Later she suggested she had a new man in her life when she said: “We had a bit of a giggle about it. I’m quite happy.”
As well as fan mail, the Edinburgh Napier University graduate gets raunchy messages from fans.
She said: “Sex symbol makes me laugh, I couldn’t be further from a sex symbol if I tried. I think I’m more your girl-next-door rather than anything else. If anyone says that, bless them.”