Shelby Quigley, 14, has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal for her bravery after diving into the fast-flowing River Wyre in Lancashire to rescue 15-year-old Lotus Bowker.
The incident occurred on May 17 of last year while Shelby was participating in a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition. She observed Lotus struggling in the water and, without hesitation, removed her clothing and boots before diving in. Shelby managed to bring Lotus to the surface, but both were submerged until a passer-by assisted in dragging the teenager to the bank. Despite resuscitation attempts, Lotus was airlifted to a hospital and passed away the following day.
Andrew Chapman, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, described Shelby's actions as "truly incredible for one so young." He noted that while the outcome was tragic, Shelby provided Lotus with the best possible chance of survival and displayed remarkable calm and bravery in a life-threatening situation. The Silver Medal is rarely awarded, making Shelby's recognition particularly significant.
Lotus, who had a developmental learning disorder affecting his risk assessment and communication, was swimming with friends. His mother had previously warned him about the dangers of open water. At an inquest, the coroner concluded that Lotus died by misadventure, attributing it to the unintended consequences of an intended act, influenced in part by his disorder and encouragement from his peers. His father later issued a warning about the perils of river and open water swimming.
Lotus was among several individuals who died in open-water incidents during a heatwave last year.