Lachlan Gray, 4, saved his brother Mitchell’s life in drowning incident

SIBLINGS Lachlan and Mitchell Gray share a bond that goes beyond brothers. Earlier this year, Lachlan, 4, saved his one-year-old brother from drowning in a garden pond.

SIBLINGS Lachlan and Mitchell Gray share a bond that goes beyond brothers. Earlier this year, Lachlan, 4, saved his younger brother from drowning in a garden pond.

His relieved and proud mother, Catherine Gray, of Belair, has nominated Lachlan for a Pride of Australia award in the Child of Courage category.

Mrs Gray says when her son, Mitchell, 18 months, over balanced and fell head first into a small pond made from a wine barrel, Lachlan sensed the danger immediately.

He jumped into action and pulled the younger boy’s head out of the water, while yelling for his mum.

“I had just dashed off to the rubbish bin when Mitchell fell into the pond, his legs dangling up in the air, he was in a position he wouldn’t have been able to get out of,” Mrs Gray says.

“Lachlan heard the splash, turned around and saw Mitchell’s body half in the water and instantly knew that wasn’t right.

“He ran over and tried to pull him out, while screaming.

“He was not strong enough to pull Mitchell’s whole body out of the water so he held his head above water until I arrived about 30 seconds later.”

Mrs Gray says Lachlan was scared and could not comprehend what had happened.

“He was in tears, Mitchell was in tears and they were both so overwhelmed,” she says.

“He was quite scared because Mitchell was soaked in water and covered in dirt from the pond.

“It was like he thought I would be mad at him.”

Mrs Gray reassured her little hero what he had done was far from getting him into trouble.

“I said ‘you’re amazing, you’ve saved your brother’s life, do you know what would have happened if you weren’t there?’”

“He said ‘no’ because he just didn’t understand the magnitude of the situation at all.

“Lachlan saved Mitchell’s life.”

Mrs Gray says she is extremely proud of her son for acting so quickly in such a terrifying emergency.

“I was just so grateful,” she says.

“I couldn’t believe he had the ability to have thought that fast in a frightening situation.”

News Corp’s Pride of Australia campaign has celebrated local heroes since 2005.

Now in its 10th year, the campaign puts the spotlight on Australians who do extraordinary things for their neighbourhood.

Winners will be honoured in a state medal ceremony in October and eligible to win their category at a national gala event in Sydney in December.

Nominations for the Pride of Australia awards close Tuesday.

Enter at advertiser.com.au/prideofaustralia