Woman saves boy after hearing screams for help

A woman saved a teenager who became trapped in a fast flowing dam in Devon.

Katie Roberts, 37, from Plymouth, said she was at Lopwell Dam, near Plymouth, on Saturday when she heard a teenager "screaming for help".

Ms Roberts, who was with her 14 year old daughter, said the 15 year old was clinging to a step as water "bashed him in the face" and appeared to be pulling him into the River Tavy.

She said: "His swim shorts had come down and were wrapped around his trainers so he was unable to kick. He let go and went under".

Ms Roberts, 37, who was diagnosed with breast cancer when she was 26, said she was not very strong after undergoing a lot of surgery.

She said she was the only adult present and jumped in the water to help the teenager, before the water carried them down the steps and was pulling them into the river.

"I just clung to him trying to get him out," she told John Acres at Breakfast on BBC Radio Devon.

"I was running out of energy, I was going under."

She said the boy's friends then managed to grab him and pull him to shore.

She said: "I just sat there on the rock to catch my breath for ages, I was so worn out."

Ms Roberts said the experience was "really scary" and said if she was not there "it would have been too late".

"I think he would have drowned," she said.

"People don't realise how dangerous it is there, a lot of people play on these steps."

She said: "You've got to know what you're doing...it was particularly strong and deep that day.

"I'm not very strong but my adrenaline kicked in that day".

Ms Roberts said the teenager was "bruised and battered" and was taken to Derriford Hospital to be checked over.

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