A Knottingley teen who saved a toddler from drowning has been named as a finalist in the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons

Knottingley teenager, Ryley Ferguson, who jumped into the canal to save a toddler from drowning has been named as a finalist in the Amplifon Awards for Brave Britons 2020.
Ryley Ferguson with little Reggie Johnson, who fell into the canalRyley Ferguson with little Reggie Johnson, who fell into the canal
Ryley Ferguson with little Reggie Johnson, who fell into the canal

In a brave act, 15-year-old Ryley Ferguson plunged into the Aire and Calder canal at Knottingley when he saw a small boy close to the water.

On Sunday May 3, Ryley was out walking his dogs, Scooby and Billy, with a friend by the Knottingley Canal, when he spotted the young child with his legs dangling in the water.

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The toddler, 15-month-old old Reggie Johnson, who had slipped away from home without his parents knowing, fell into the water.

Ryley was out walking his dogs, Scooby and Billy, when he spotted the young child with his legs dangling in the waterRyley was out walking his dogs, Scooby and Billy, when he spotted the young child with his legs dangling in the water
Ryley was out walking his dogs, Scooby and Billy, when he spotted the young child with his legs dangling in the water

Ryley quickly took off his coat and shoes and swam across to drag Reggie to the canal bank where a passer-by helped to pull them out of the water.

Ryley said: “He had his legs dangling in the water but then he started waving at us which scared me.

“We probably wouldn’t have seen him if he hadn’t waved.

“We started walking over and my friend shouted, ‘he’s fallen in, he’s fallen in!’ There was no splash or thrashing about but I could see him sinking. I didn’t have time to hesitate, I just took off my coat and shoes, dived in and swam across to get him.

15-year-old Ryley Ferguson plunged into the Aire and Calder canalat Knottingley when he saw a small boy close to the water15-year-old Ryley Ferguson plunged into the Aire and Calder canalat Knottingley when he saw a small boy close to the water
15-year-old Ryley Ferguson plunged into the Aire and Calder canalat Knottingley when he saw a small boy close to the water
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“If we hadn’t been there, no one would have seen him - there was no one else around.”

After the word got around about Ryley’s heroic act, the district, Ryley was later praised for his bravery by the Mayor of Wakefield, Councillor Charles Keith.

Ryley said Reggie’s parents were “over the moon and really proud” that he had been on hand to help.

The Amplifon Awards For Brave Britons are in their fifth year and celebrate remarkable people and pets.

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Ryley has been invited to the virtual presentation on Tuesday, October 13 - where a Brave Britons award is up for grabs.

Radio 5 Live breakfast presenter Rachel Burden will host the event, and Falklands War hero, Simon Weston, will be guest of honour.

Ryley said: “I don’t think it was an amazing thing, I just did what anyone else would do in that situation.

“There was no other thing I could have done, If I didn’t swim across then he would have drowned.”