Cyclist hailed as hero for rescuing pensioner who had fallen into canal

A pensioner was saved when two passing cyclists helped to pluck him from a canal after he drove his mobility scooter into the water.

Mike White, 38 was cycling with a friend along the canal in Griffithstown when he spotted the 65 year old in difficulty.

“He was waist to chest deep,” Mike told the South Wales Argus.

“None of us got into the water. We took him to a nearby wall and sat him down.”

The man had bought the mobility scooter the previous day and accidentally driven into the water when Mr White, a team manager at a Lloyds Bank call centre in Newport, spotted him

Firefighters were called, and treated the man for hypothermia, South Wales Fire and Rescue Service said.

He was later taken to Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport.

The Welsh Ambulance Service said the man was "conscious and breathing" as he was taken to hospital at around 12.30pm. 

Mr White said that the man lost control of the vehicle.

”He went straight into the water,” he said.

“He had bought the mobility scooter the previous day. It was a day old.

“He was conscious but he couldn’t get out himself.

“He was cold and in shock.”