Hero Natalie saves teen from drowning

A DUMFRIES woman has been hailed as a hero after she saved a teenager from drowning. Natalie Wilson was walking with her pal Abi Thomson and their dogs where they first noticed a 15-year-old boy in the River Nith, at Nunholm, on Tuesday night. And Natalie’s instinct kicked in when she spotted the youth’s head disappearing and then coming back up. The 31-year-old immediately dived into the water to help him and managed to pull him out to safety. Natalie – who says she’s always been a strong and confident swimmer – added: “When I was helping him I was trying to keep him calm and he was looking in my eyes saying please help me, and at that point I knew I couldn’t leave him. “He then started to panic where he kept submerging me under the water. “At that point, I honestly thought we were both gone. Luckily we were near the edge and I got my footing and got him out. “After we got him out, myself and my friend Abi walked him to the car park where his mum rushed him to the hospital. I was in so much shock and exhausted as well by this point. “It’s one of the scariest things that’s happened, I’m just so glad the wee boy is recovering. His family were so grateful to me. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.” And after the near-death experience, Natalie believes more safety measures need to be put in place. She added: “There definitely needs to be more signs or more safety equipment down at Nunholm as there was nothing down there where we were. “I feel the main point is much more safety measures should be taken around water, like talks at schools.” Natalie’s bravery and determination has been praised by the community with some branding her as a “hero” and a “life-saver”.