‘Yeah, I think I was pretty brave,’ says five-year-old hero Louis Kempster

A FUN afternoon at the beach could have easily turned to tragedy for the Kempster family if it wasn’t for the quick thinking of five-year-old Louis.

A FUN afternoon at the beach could have easily turned to tragedy for the Kempster family if it wasn’t for the quick thinking and bravery of five-year-old Louis.

Little Louis sprang into action after his two-year-old brother, Astor, fell into the deep, murky waters of the Torrens river mouth at Henley Beach, holding his head above the water until he could be rescued by his mother, Dana.

Now Dana and Louis’ father, Clinton, of West Beach, have nominated the reception student for the Child of Courage category in the Pride of Australia awards in recognition of his brave deed.

People have until Tuesday night to nominate their own hero for a Pride of Australia medal.

The awards, now in their 10th year, have 10 categories and recognise everything from acts of bravery to community service.

The Kempster family – recruitment consultant Dana, Amelie, 7, Louis and Astor – decided to have a play in the area on the afternoon of May 29.

The tide was in and the water level in the river was high, and Mrs Kempster said neither she nor the children realised how quickly the bank dropped off into deep water.

Distracted by her daughter, Mrs Kempster then heard Louis screaming out that Astor had fallen into the deep water.

“I’d told them to stay away from the water,” Mrs Kempster said.

“I literally turned my head for a few seconds – that’s how quickly it all happened.”

Astor stepped off the bank, possibly thinking the water was shallow, falling into the river.

Beside himself with fear and with tears streaming down his face, Louis reached out and grabbed hold of his little brother, doing everything he could to keep Astor’s head above the water until Mrs Kempster could pull him out.

“I just saw Astor fall in so I put my hand out and held his head out of the water,” Louis said.

“Yeah, I think I was pretty brave.”

After pulling Astor out, Mrs Kempster said the whole family realised how close they had come to losing him.

“The water is so dark and deep that if he had slipped under I don’t think I could have ever found him,” Mrs Kempster said.

“There were a lot of tears and hugs, everyone was crying. Then it was home to put the wet kids in the bath, followed by more hugs.”

Mr Kempster, who wasn’t at the beach on the day, said Louis was very close to Astor, and had always been very protective of his little brother.

“He’s a very family-oriented boy,” he said.

“He’s the kind of kid that if something happens to someone in the family then he’ll feel sympathy pains. A very gently little fella.

“More than anything, this nomination is a way for my wife and I to say ‘thank you, Louis, for being so brave and courageous, realising at that time that you were the only one who could help’.

“We all had an extra-long cuddle later that evening.”

Nominate a local hero at advertiser.com.au/prideofaustralia