A boy who pulled his stroke-hit grandad from a river to save his life has been named Child of Courage in the first Pride of Scotland Awards.
Greg Galloway was surprised with the gong by TV’s Stephen Mulhern during a family trip to see London’s Christmas lights.
The 11-year-old was also given a ticket to a VIP gaming experience with his idol Daz Games – YouTube gaming star Daz Black.
Daz said: “It’s an honour. He’s a really special kid.”
Greg, of Galston in Ayrshire, said: “The fact Daz said I really deserved this award is brilliant. I feel proud of what I’ve done.”
Greg was just eight when he rescued grandad John Howe, 63, on a fishing trip.
John, who made a full recovery, said: “I couldn’t be any prouder.”
Greg thought he was enjoying a trip to London with his mum and grandad when he was surprised with the award.
Greg said: “I was a little bit overwhelmed but now I’m starting to calm down and I feel really great about what I’ve done.
“So many people came here for me and it was just unbelievable.
“Daz has been my idol for quite a while now and I just never thought I’d get to meet him.
"It feels really important to me and the fact that he said I really deserve this is brilliant.
“I feel proud for what I’ve done.”
He added: “Thank you for this award, thank you to everyone who think I deserve this.”
And Greg’s award is definitely well-earned.
His act of courage came in October 2018 when the youngster pulled his grandfather, John, 63, out of a fast-flowing river after he suffered a bleed on the brain.
The duo had been enjoying a fishing trip together on the River Irvine and Greg had just caught his first salmon.
But, as John was helping to take the fish off the hook, he suffered a stroke – loosing all feeling in his left side and falling into the water.
But despite only being nine years old, Greg took the emergency in his stride and overcame the odds to drag his 6ft 6 grandfather out of the river.
He then called his mum, Jennifer, and told her where they were, and waited by his grandfather’s side until the emergency services arrived.
As a result, John has now made a full recovery.
Greg says: “My grandad took a stroke and fell into the water and I had to help get him out of it.
"Then I phoned my mum and when she saw what was going on she phoned the ambulance and he was in hospital for three days.
“I don’t understand what I did. But I do feel a little bit of pride and most of all I think about the fact that my grandpa is still alive.”
His grandfather, John, adds: “I couldn’t be any prouder. He was eight at the time and to do that is phenomenal.”
After spending the day with Greg and hearing about his story, Stephen Mulhern also agreed that the little boy is truly magic.
He says: “I tell you what I love about these awards, it’s quite simple – when you think of someone like Greg who has done something absolutely incredible, forget about his age, that’s one thing, but what he’s done is mind blowing. It’s astonishing, it really is.
“Greg absolutely deserves his Pride of Scotland Award. He is a child of courage and, wowee, what an achievement.
“He saved his grandpa’s life – that’s a fact. It’s amazing and he doesn’t even know how proud he should be.”
And the magician – who made time to show Greg some of his finest tricks – says he is thrilled to be part of the inaugural Pride of Scotland Awards.
He says: “When you think of the year that everybody has had, to have something like the Pride of Scotland, where you can say, this is a time to celebrate and celebrate the incredible achievements of people too, it’s quite nice just to be happy for a moment and to go ‘well done’.”
And although Daz Black may be Greg’s idol, the superstar gamer says that he was in awe of the schoolboy.
He says: “Greg completely deserves this and he is a very strong little boy.
"I’m not sure if I was that age that I’d find the bravery to do what he did, so it is an absolute honour and to know he’s one of my fans, I’m very very proud of him.”
He adds: “The thing that got me the most is that he didn’t really realise what he did and that shows a lot about his character.
“It’s sort of saying, we should do this for all humans no matter what. We should use that bravery and dive headfirst in to save someone. That’s an amazing quality to have. He’s a really special kid.”
- The Daily Record Pride of Scotland Awards 2020, in partnership with TSB, will be available across the UK on all major platforms via the STV Player from 10.45pm Thursday.
