A MODEST father and son from Beckenham are being hailed as heroes after rescuing a drowning man from a lake.

Alan John Grant, 50, and his 26-year-old son Alan of South Eden Park Road, are receiving top life-saving awards after rescuing a man in London's Regent Park where they work as landscapers.

The surprised pair will receive a testimonial on parchment from the Royal Humane Society and Mr Grant will also be presented with a resuscitation certificate for reviving the man.

Royal Humane Society secretary Christopher Tyler said: "This is a classic case of two citizens doing their best and succeeding. It must be very satisfying for the Grants to know they have saved a human life."

The man, 42-year-old Mark Finnegan from Kilburn, was seen floating face down in a boating lake on June 6.

He had gone into the lake to rescue his dog, which was being attacked by swans.

However, a woman saw the man collapse 20 feet in and alerted the pair who were working by the nearby bandstand.

Alan, who admits he is not a strong swimmer, said he went into auto-pilot.

"I couldn't see the man at first but when the woman pointed him out, that was it. I called my dad and just took my boots off and went into the water."

When they dragged him out of the water, there was no pulse. Mr Grant checked he had not swallowed his tongue, turned him over and patted his back to bring up the water which was choking him. He was taken to intensive care by air ambulance.

He later made a full recovery.

Although both men are excited about receiving the awards, Mr Grant said: "We are surprised with the fuss being made. My son just leapt into the lake and I followed him. We didn't think any more about it."

The awards take time to prepare but should be presented by the Royal Park chief inspector Derek Pollock in the spring.

Mr Pollock said: "They did very well. Members of the public just stood back and watched while they actually got up and rescued the man."

December 13, 2001 10:42

Lucy Brinicombe