All's well for 'hero' after soggy rescue

Norman Dalwood is given a thank-you card from Kotomiyo and Yoshiko Cowell, of Portobello, after he helped rescue the pair from Otago Harbour while his own car rolled into the water. Photo by Jane Dawber.

The Good Samaritan who helped a woman and her toddler from Otago Harbour and then watched as his car went into the water, says he would do the same thing again.

Norman Dalwood (58), of Harwood, said he had no hesitation in slamming on his brakes, putting the hazard lights on, and rushing to assist when he saw the pair and their pram enter the water on Thursday morning.

"I would do it again. It was worth it to have my 7-year-old grandson come in and say 'Geez Grandad, you are a hero'."

Assisting Yoshiko Cowell and her daughter Kotomiyo (3) from the water, he could only watch as his red Hyundai Lantra rolled into the harbour - with its hazard lights still flashing.

"I laughed. I mean what can you do ... I am still laughing," he said.

"I had put my hand on the brake but obviously did not pull it up far enough ... I thought I had done all the right things."

Ms Cowell offered her rescuer her cellphone but it was waterlogged after falling into the water when the three-wheeler pram tipped from its braked position and rolled down the seawall.

His car, which was not insured, was later pulled out by Reilly's Towage & Salvage and despite a few extra scratches, dents and saltwater, "I got in and away it went".

On Saturday the trio met for the first time since the accident, with Kotomiyo presenting Mr Dalwood with a card she had made called "car ... splash".

hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz