Backpacker rescues drowning toddler and his mother from Sydney Harbour
A German backpacker pulled a drowning toddler and his mother from the water in Sydney’s Cockle Bay Wharf.
Jing-Wah Zhao had taken her family to see the children's film Finding Dory at the IMAX theatre in Darling Harbour on Wednesday.
Her son, John, was frightened by the movie so the two of them waited outside of the cinema to wait for it to finish.
Ms Zhao glanced away and within a split second John had tumbled into the wharf.
“Less than one second, he just slipped into the water," she told 7 News.
The petrified mother said she looked into the water to see her son's face down in the water “totally submerged.”
Her motherly instincts kicked in and she jumped into the water after her son, even though she can’t swim.
Luckily, German backpacker Tony Driessler was nearby and he dived into the water and pulled the mother and child to safety.
The tourist he had only been in Australia for one week and he told 7 News he and his friend Sarah had heard screaming before a loud splash.
“The view was terrible it was like in a bad movie,” he said.
John was sent to hospital for a check up.
