Cameron Weir
When his parents' car spun off the road and plunged into a canal, Cameron Weir did
not hesitate to save the lives of his younger brother and sister who were trapped
in the wreck.
Disaster struck the family from Cheshire when their 4x4 skidded on diesel as they
were returning home one lunchtime. The car clipped a metal barrier and rolled down
a hill, landing upside-down in the water.
Cameron, who was only 12 at the time, undid his seatbelt and swam over the headrests
and through a smashed window to the surface where he discovered he was the first
to escape.
Taking a deep breath, the brave youngster risked his own life to return to the car
and rescue his seven-year-old brother Mac and 10-year-old sister Rosie, who has
severe mental and physical disabilities, and requires round-the-clock care.
"I went into autopilot and knew I had to get them out," says Cameron. "I was scared,
but it was all happening too fast and I didn't really think about what I was doing."
Once Mac was free, Cameron's mum Beryl swam him to the bank while Cameron returned
for Rosie whom he knew couldn't swim.
The cold water was cloudy and Rosie was fully submerged, so Cameron had to feel
for her seatbelt. He managed to undo it but had to return to the car for a third
time to pull her out.
Rosie had briefly fallen unconscious but the little girl thinks she fell asleep
and woke up when her heroic brother saved her.
"When I got to the bank and looked back," says mum Beryl, "I thought Cameron and
Rosie had gone. Then he came up out of the water like a dolphin and as he twisted
over on his back I could see he had Rosie on his chest and I was shouting across
the canal, 'I'm so proud of you!'"
Meanwhile, passers-by pulled Cameron's unconscious father, Angus, to safety.
On the canal bank, Cameron took charge of his family and tried to keep his mum awake
after she passed out.
In fact, he dealt with the situation with such aplomb that firefighters mistook
him for a passer-by instead of a survivor.
The children were taken to hospital, but thanks to Cameron's quick actions were
not seriously hurt.
"I think he's wonderful," says Beryl. "I know I would have lost the others if Cameron
hadn't been in the car with us."
Unfortunately, the accident left Angus with health problems and he often needs a
wheelchair to get around, but Cameron has shown extraordinary strength in caring
for the family.
"His actions would have been heroic from anybody," admits Beryl, "but from a child
it's quite unbelievable."