Warren Tyson saved a life when he pulled a 12-year-old girl out of the Dandenong Creek using a stick on Tuesday. 22961 Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Shaun Inguanzo
A MAN who saved a young girl from drowning in Dandenong Creek on Tuesday said he would have dived into the water to save her if needed.
Narre Warren man Warren Tyson, 39, used a stick to pull a 12-year-old girl from the Dandenong Creek near Lonsdale Street after he heard the screams of her friend, also aged 12, at 12.30pm on Tuesday.
“I was walking through to Ritchies (supermarket) to meet my girlfriend for lunch and I heard someone screaming,” he said.
“I looked down from the bridge and saw a young girl in the river, under water, bobbing up and down, and another one running alongside with a stick trying to get the girl out.”
The creek was flowing rapidly, he said, and by the time he sprinted to the girl’s aid she had moved 30 metres.
Mr Tyson grabbed the stick from the other girl and placed it in the water for her friend to grab.
“She grabbed it and I dragged her out,” Mr Tyson said.
“I rolled her on her side and a fair bit of water spewed out.
“She was then okay and was worried about getting in trouble from her mother because she had lost her jacket.
“I said don’t worry about your jacket, I just saved your life.”
Meanwhile, 27-year-old Cameron Stanfield from Cranbourne North was in his car in Webster Street when he heard the loud screams and noticed Mr Tyson running to the creek.
Police said he got out of his car and ran towards the creek and assisted Mr Tyson after he pulled the girl from the creek.
“Cameron rang triple zero, and Warren then left noting they were in capable hands,” a Victoria Police media statement said.
“Both girls were extremely distressed and wanted to be taken home.”
Mr Tyson said it took a while for him to realise his newfound hero status.
“I was very shaky for about half an hour after it – she was just a very lucky girl,” he said.
“But now I sit back knowing I’ve done a good deed.”
