Harry Ryan nominated for Pride of Australia award by Queensland Police for outstanding bravery during search for his grandfather
THE LAST words a brave young boy heard from his grandfather would help searchers on the banks of an icy cold Toowoomba dam.
THE LAST words a brave young boy heard from his grandfather would help searchers on the banks of an icy cold Toowoomba dam.
“If my head goes under the water and I don’t come back, ring your mother’s mobile,” John “Skeeter” Ryan, 73, said to his five-year-old grandson Harry early this month.
The day that tore the close-knit Ryan family apart started with a fishing trip to a dam near Toowoomba. While offloading their fishing boat, a strong wind carried it out of Mr Ryan’s grasp and across the dam.
Mr Ryan grabbed Harry’s hand and the pair walked about 3km to retrieve their boat, with Mr Ryan telling his grandson to stay on the bank while he waded into the water to fetch it.
Harry’s mother Lindy Ryan said she had called her father to check in minutes later but her son’s voice had trickled down the line instead.
Do you know a local legend? Nominate them for a Pride of Australia medal here. Nominations close on July 29.
“Grandad is just going into the water to get the boat,” Harry said.
“Tell grandad mummy’s on her way over in another boat so don’t get his feet wet,” she had replied.
“OK mum, I’ll do that.”
When Harry turned around his grandfather had disappeared. Ms Ryan said she arrived fifteen minutes later to find her muddied son searching for his grandad. He had already called his grandmother.
Beside him was a line of footprints leading into the water but none coming out.
“Mum, grandad’s head went under and he didn’t come up,” Harry said.
Mr Ryan’s body would be retrieved from the dam 24 hours later but it was Harry’s quick thinking and cool head that led authorities to the scene to search.
“Harry phoned his nana, stayed calm and stayed on the bank until I arrived,” Ms Ryan said. “He waited with me until emergency services and police came and he was able to say his name, where he had seen grandad, what he was wearing and what had happened,” she said.
Harry has been nominated for the Pride of Australia Awards by the Queensland Police for his outstanding bravery.
“I’m glad I was with grandad when he died so he wasn’t on his own,” he said.
A police spokesperson said Harry “enabled emergency services to arrive at the scene and commence a search”.
“He displayed courage, memory recall, location awareness and mental stability greatly beyond his age.”
Do you know a local legend? Nominate them for a Pride of Australia medal here. Nominations close on July 29.