Tremendous act of heroism sees mum and two kids saved from drowning in Hutt River

Friday, 1 February 2019

Paula Johnson admits she is not a strong swimmer – but she didn't let that hold her back when she saw a mother and her two young children struggling in the Hutt River.

Upper Hutt mum Monique Preston and two of her five children – 2-year-old Yana and eight year-old Danylee – were cooling off in the river on Thursday when they suddenly got into trouble.

Johnson, who was behind a large rock on the riverbank, could not see them but heard a muffled cry for help.

When she went to investigate, she found the trio in serious trouble in a deep pool.

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Paula Johnson with her son Reeco, 7, at the spot on the Hutt River where she saved a mum and two young children from drowning.

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Paula Johnson (centre right) gets a bouquet of flowers and a hug of appreciation from the three people she saved; Upper Hutt mum Monique Preston (centre left) and her children Yana Preston, 2 (left), and Danylee Preston, 8.

Although she is not the best swimmer, Johnson jumped in. With adrenaline kicking in she managed to drag all three out.

'If I had not been there, they all would have drowned. It all happened very fast', Johnson said.

By the time she reached them, Preston was battling to keep her head above water as she tried to save baby Yana.

'Every time I went up to grab a breath, I got a big mouthful of water,' Preston said.

Heroic rescuer Paula Johnson, from Upper Hutt, says she still gets goosebumps when she thinks about how she jumped into the Hutt River to save three people.

Struggling to save her two children, she quickly ran out of energy.

The incident showed how fast things can go wrong in the water, she said.

'Once I panicked there was no logical thinking at all. I could not believe that it happened to me, it did not look a dangerous spot.'

Without Johnson there it would 'definitely' have ended in tragedy, she said.

Water Safety NZ chief executive Jonty Mills said people often underestimate the power of river currents.

'I think all three of us would not be here today.'

Preston gave Johnson some flowers, chocolates and a necklace that had been blessed on Friday to show her gratitude.

Johnson said she was still shaking 24 hours after the event, and it was hard to believe what had happened.

'I get goosebumps thinking about it.'

She did not feel like a hero and only did what anyone facing a similar situation would have done, she said.

Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy said his entire community was grateful to Johnson for her heroic deeds.

'I just saw they were in serious trouble so I did not really think about it. The main thing was getting Yana because I could see she was in real trouble.'

Water Safety New Zealand CEO Jonty Mills said four people had drowned in the Hutt River over the past five years.

He was pleased that no one drowned on Thursday but said Prestons' brush with death should serve as a reminder of how dangerous rivers are.

More people die in our rivers than in any other aquatic environment. Since 1980, 928 New Zealanders have drowned in rivers, with 86 of those drownings happening in the past five years.

People often underestimate the power of currents in a river as it can appear serene, but a large mass of moving water is a powerful force, Mills said.

Upper Hutt Mayor Wayne Guppy said he knew the spot well where Preston and her children got in trouble, and what happened was a reminder of how dangerous the river can be.

The entire community was grateful that Johnson was able to avert a tragedy, he said.

'I will be personally thanking her on behalf of my community for her heroic deeds.'

HOW TO STAY SAFE IN RIVERS

* If you end up in a river it is important not to panic, float on your back and call for help.

* Lift your head and look for a suitable exit point and run out area.

* Angle your body to the run out area and use your arms as oars to scull toward it.

* Keep your feet up so they do not get trapped in rocks.

* Find a suitable exit point as soon as possible, then use a lot of energy to swim to the bank.

* Do not swim alone.