Quick-Thinking Jogger Hailed as Hero After Pulling Woman from Icy Staffordshire Canal
A Staffordshire woman has described how a passing jogger became her guardian angel after she fell into the bitterly cold waters of the Trent and Mersey Canal. The dramatic incident occurred near Stone, highlighting the hidden dangers of winter walks along waterways.
A Routine Walk Turns Dangerous
Tracy Hall, aged 60 from Stone, was walking her brother's six-year-old Cocker Spaniel, Cooper, along the canal towpath towards Meaford when the situation turned perilous. "Because of the snow and the ice, it was very slippery," Tracy explained, noting she had decided to turn back halfway through her walk due to recent shoulder surgery requiring extra caution.
The trouble began when Cooper made a sudden flying leap into the canal. "The water was still bitterly cold and covered in ice," Tracy recalled. "He couldn't get out of the water." Attempting to rescue her pet, Tracy knelt on the towpath edge to grab Cooper's collar, but tragically over-balanced and plunged into the freezing water herself.
Trapped in Freezing Conditions
Finding herself stuck in the canal, Tracy discovered her recent surgery left her without sufficient upper-body strength to climb out using nearby metal bars. "I was trapped," she said. "It wasn't very deep, but it was very cold." Her situation was rapidly deteriorating in the sub-zero temperatures.
Fortunately, Gregg Nixon from Lightwood was training for a marathon along the same stretch of canal. Initially mistaking the splashing for a black swan, Gregg quickly realised a woman was in distress and sprinted to her aid. "Luckily she was right up against the side of the canal," Gregg modestly explained. "I just hung over the ledge and grabbed her arms."
A Narrow Escape from Hypothermia
Tracy's smartwatch revealed her heart rate had become dangerously high, and she believes she was beginning to experience hypothermia. "The temperature was so low that day that I probably had about fifteen minutes at most before things took a really serious turn," she revealed. Her soaked clothing was dragging her down as she attempted to reach her car after the rescue.
Despite Gregg's offer to walk her home, Tracy continued alone before calling a family member for assistance. She later managed to locate her rescuer through social media to properly express her gratitude.
Modest Hero and Heartfelt Gratitude
Gregg downplayed his actions, insisting he simply did "what anyone else would do." The humble jogger added: "I don't perceive myself as special or anything like that, I was just in the right place at the right time."
Tracy and her family remain profoundly thankful, with Tracy describing Gregg as "like my guardian angel that day." She presented him with gift vouchers for Moddershall Oaks as a token of appreciation, noting: "Otherwise my family would be paying for the funeral costs."
Winter Water Safety Warning
Reflecting on her frightening experience, Tracy offered stark advice to other dog walkers considering winter waterside walks:
- Avoid swimming in freezing canals during snowy winters while wearing full clothing
- Be particularly cautious if recovering from recent surgery
- Keep dogs away from icy water edges during cold weather
The incident serves as a sobering reminder of how quickly routine activities can turn dangerous during winter months, and how the vigilance of community members like Gregg can make the difference between life and death.
