South Yorkshire Times, July 28th, 1951
Modest Mexborough Hero
Fourteen, He Saves Swinton Child from Canal
A 14-year-old Mexborough boy dived fully clothed into Swinton canal on Tuesday and rescued a seven-year-old Swinton boy who had fallen in and was going down for the third time.
The rescuer was Peter Round eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George A. Round, 80 Frederick Street, Mexborough. The boy he saved was Raymond Frost, Valley Road Swinton who was taken to Mexborough Montagu Hospital after the accident but allowed to go home the following day.
Peter, a pupil at Dolcliffe Road Modern School, would not give his name after the rescue, but this was supplied by some school friends and the Police have prepared a report of his gallant action.
When a “South Yorkshire Times” reporter called to see him yesterday Peter was out – he had gone swimming in the canal! His parents however were willing to tell the story as recounted to them by their son.
Peter was watching some men fishing on the canal at Swinton, near Bowbroom Locks. On the opposite bank some small children were playing at the edge of the water. Peter called across to them to keep away from the edge, and then heard a scream. He saw that a little boy had fallen in the water and flew round to the other side. Fifty yards he ran to the lock, straight across that and along the other bank. He threw off this coat and dived in at the spot where the child’s cap was floating on the water. Grabbing hold of his hair and one arm he was able to haul Raymond out just before he went down for the third time.
Artificial respiration was given on the spot by Mrs. Beatrice Gollick, a visitor to Swinton who later reported the incident to the Police.
After the unexpected dip Peter went straight home to change his clothes. “I saw he was wet through,” his mother said yesterday. “and asked him he’d fallen in the canal. “Don’t be so soft,” he answered, but still didn’t say anything.” When Mrs. Round pressed him, however he admitted he had “pulled a kiddy out of the canal.”
|Peter taught himself to swim in the canal about three years ago, but he had no life-saving training. In 1949 he was awarded an elementary swimming certificate at his school. His father is employed as a brick-layers’ labourer by Messrs. Bramall and Ogden (Wath).