'Hero' parliamentary staff rescue man who fell into River Thames
Ron Dowson and Habibi Syaaf were on duty when CCTV showed a man was struggling in the waters nearby.
Wednesday 8 January 2020 20:36, UK
Two members of parliamentary security staff have been hailed as heroes after rescuing a man who fell into the River Thames.
Security officer Ron Dowson and Met Police officer Habibi Syaaf were on duty on Tuesday night when CCTV operators spotted a man fall into the river by Victoria Tower Gardens.
He was found clinging on to the steps leading to the river before he was hauled out by the staff who then looked after him until paramedics arrived.
Mr Syaaf, 38, said when they reached the man he was fully submerged and struggling to breathe.
Mr Syaaf, a father-of-two, said: "I got down to the last step and urged him to give me his hand, but as I did so he lost his grip from a metal mooring ring and started drifting away.
"I just shouted 'grab my hand' and managed to pull him back on to the first step.
"Ron put a buoy over him and we hauled him into the gardens where my colleagues removed his wet clothes and wrapped him in blankets.
"The guy was shaking and couldn't speak. I'm just so grateful he survived.
"I'm not a hero - Ron and I just did what we are trained for and what we could to help."
Priti Patel, the home secretary, and Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the new Speaker, praised the officers for their bravery.
Ms Patel said: "Their heroism is the perfect example of police working alongside members of the public to keep people safe.
"In this instance neither hesitated, running towards freezing tides to rescue a man who was in very real danger.
"I am proud to call them both my colleagues in parliament."
Sir Lindsay added: "There's no doubt in my mind that had it not been for Ron, Habibi, and the control room operator Dave Thomas who spotted him, that man could have drowned.
"We are so lucky to have so many brave security staff looking after us in parliament, but also keeping people in the vicinity safe.
"I would like to think their bravery could be recognised."
It's not the first time Mr Dowson has been hailed a hero. He won a Pride of Britain award in 2000 for grabbing a man off the tracks at Leicester Square station while he was on the way to watch Arsenal play Sheffield Wednesday.
He pulled the man away and then carried on his trip to the match - saying he only missed five minutes.