A Scots dad has thanked a quick-thinking stranger for saving his son from drowning after he fell into a canal.
Sean Donachie's five-year-old son Oliver plunged into the icy canal waters at The Kelpies after falling from a bridge on Sunday.
The terrified youngster, who cannot swim, was completely submerged beneath the water until quick-thinking stranger, Barry Saigeon, jumped in and pulled him to safety.
Sean, from Paisley, was visiting the Falkirk landmark with wife Lisa and their two sons Oliver and their eldest child, seven-year-old Sean, when the drama unfolded.
Sean told The Record : "We had been sitting on the grass having a picnic. The boys were playing and it's a very child-friendly place so we weren't concerned.
"My wife was tidying up ad I went to put stuff in the bin and that's when Oliver fell in. He slipped through a gap in the bridge and went into the water.
"There was a man standing with his wife who seen it happened and instantly jumped in after him and pulled him out. I actually missed the whole thing and just ran over after Oliver had been rescued, but I dread tothink what could have happened. Oliver can't swim so he would have drowned.
"He was drenched and scared and cold. Another man offered to give us his jacket to keep him warm. Everything happened so fast I didn't get a chance to thank either of the men properly.
"It was only when I got home the enormity of what happened actually hit me and I realised my son could have died if that guy didn't act so fast. We are just so grateful to him."
Sean managed to track down the Kelpies hero, Barry Saigeon, through Facebook. Barry was visiting the landmark from Dundee with wife Jill and kids Liam, seven and Sarah, 10.
Reluctant hero Barry said: "I'm just glad the little boy is ok and that he just reacted at the time, like anyone would. We were just in the right place at the right time."
Barry's wife Jill said her humble husband has been playing his heroic actions down. She added: "I don't think Barry fully realises what the outcome could have been if he didn't react when he did. He so is overwhelmed at being called a hero."
