It happened in seconds. A teenage boat volunteer heard an engine overhead at Temple Lock, looked up, and saw a paraglider crash into the water.
Harry Hermon, a volunteer rescuer at charity Swan Support, was driving a boat to Henley when he heard the engine noise above him near Marlow, Buckinghamshire, on Monday at about 20:50 BST.
He saw a group of paragliders flying above and watched as one suddenly “hit the telephone line and dropped into the lock” about 80 feet ahead of him.
Harry ran to the scene and alerted the lock keeper. The two then worked to stop the pilot being pulled underwater by the equipment he was attached to.
Harry pulled the paraglider strings to lift the man’s head above water, while the lock keeper used a metal bar to support the weight of the equipment.
The teenager then climbed down into the water to try to free the man from the heavy gear dragging him under.
Together, they held him until Buckinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service arrived and got him safely to the bank.
The man was conscious and breathing and was left in the care of the ambulance service.
Harry played down suggestions he was a hero.
“I got a bit of an adrenaline buzz at first, but that was it,” he said.
“I’m happy and that, but… I don’t really think it’s that massive a deal.”
His Swan Support colleagues said: “Well done, Harry. Your courage, compassion and quick thinking undoubtedly made an incredible difference, and your actions are something everyone at Swan Support is immensely proud of.”
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