Amy Hume
A 13-year-old Broadford boy has been hailed a hero after rescuing an injured man from Ovens River at Myrtleford.
Jackson Patmore-Smith saved 18-year-old Scott Mullins, of Myrtleford, from drowning after he had sustained neck and back injuries from jumping into the river earlier this month.
Young Jackson and his sister, Mikayla, were visiting their step-aunt for her birthday with their father Brian Patmore, and spent their last day at Ovens River.
“I was watching [Scott] jump in from the rocks at a distance and he seemed like a confident swimmer. He looked like he’d done it before,” Jackson said.
He said there were about 50 people in the area, but when Scott jumped for the third time that day an ice-cream van pulled up and many rushed to place their orders.
Jackson hung back. He noticed that something had gone horribly wrong.
“[Scott] was in the middle of the river trying to keep himself above the water,” Jackson recalled.
“I reached him halfway and got behind him and gave him a push to the bank of the river.”
Jackson called for help as soon as he reached the river bank and his father immediately called an ambulance.
“He was in a lot of pain and in and out of consciousness. I had to hold him under the water to keep him afloat,” Jackson said.
“I made sure I didn’t stop talking to him and kept him looking at me the whole time.
“There were people around then, telling me to get him out of the water but I knew it would do more damage to him.”
He said he has no medical or surf-life-saving background but he drew his knowledge from rescue and reality surf-life-saving television programs.
Jackson went with his gut-feeling and bravely waited until medical help arrived.
He was waiting in the water by Scott’s side for about 25 minutes, unable to keep himself warm.
“He was very calm,” Mr Patmore said.
“I didn’t think he would be cool and calm under those conditions. To me he’s a hero. I’m extremely proud.”
Scott said he’s grateful for Jackson’s actions on the day.
“Everyone was throwing comment at him and telling him what to do but it didn’t faze him,” Scott recalled.
“He was doing his own thing and the paramedics said he didn’t do a single thing wrong.”
What went wrong
The “local hot spot” at Ovens River had been subject to flooding just weeks before and debris had been thrown down the river moving rocks and changing the course of its stream.
Scott admitted that what he did was an act of stupidity.
“After knowing there had just been floods there it was really stupid of me to just assume it would be safe,” Scott said.
“A lot of people jump into the water from there so I didn’t think anything would go wrong.
“In a mater of 10 seconds I was pulled under and turned around – head-first under water,” he said.
“I hit my head on a rock and I was freaking out. I hit the second rock on my spine.”
“I was trying to keep my head up while my legs were sinking. I tried to get someone’s attention but they just looked at me strangely - then I heard a voice behind me.
“I was amazed that a kid had come to save me.”
Scott suffered bruising to his spine, torn ligaments, temporary paralysis and shortening of lumbar five in his spine.
He will have to wear a neck brace for three months and will be in rehabilitation for five months, where he will learn to walk again.
“It could have a lot worse,” he said.
“Jackson should be awarded a medal.
“I am really grateful that he was there. He was brave for even swimming out there.
“I am very lucky that he is who he is.”
