Hero father tells of rescuing pensioner from freezing canal
A FATHER rescued an elderly man who fell into a freezing canal after spotting his devoted dog nearby.
Gregor Angus, 39, was walking with his son Lucas, aged four, along the Union Canal in Linlithgow on January
31.
They had seen dogwalker Brian Watson, 81, who was out for a walk with his black Labrador, Hugo, just before 5pm.
As they were returning by the same route,
Gregor noticed the black Lab was sitting by himself by the side of the water near Friars Brae Bridge.
When he looked closer, the senior business development manager was shocked to see the pensioner lying face down in water, apparently lifeless.
He attempted to drag Mr Watson from the freezing water but found this a struggle.
Mr Angus, a father of two from West Lothian, said: “I spotted his dog sitting by itself, which I thought was a bit strange. When we got closer, I noticed what turned out to be Brian lying in the water. He was lying face down in the water and was completely lifeless.”
Lucas held the dog’s lead while his dad tried to drag the pensioner to safety.
Mr Angus added: “From the edge of the water I was able to grab on to his jacket and haul him out without having to go in. I screamed for help – there were people about 100 yards away who rushed over. He was wearing a jacket and winter clothes – I needed help to pull him out.
“It was a team effort; I’m thankful for the other people who were there to help.”
The octogenarian was rushed to hospital and has since made a full recovery.