Shelby Quigley, 14, has been awarded the Royal Humane Society Silver Medal, a rare distinction, for her courageous actions while on a Duke of Edinburgh Bronze Expedition. The incident occurred when Quigley spotted 15-year-old Lotus Bowker struggling in the River Wyre in Lancashire.
Witnessing Bowker in difficulty in the swift currents, Quigley quickly removed her clothing and boots and entered the water. She surfaced to catch her breath before diving back under and locating Bowker on the riverbed. Quigley managed to bring the teenager to the surface, but was herself struggling in the deep water until a passer-by assisted in bringing both to the riverbank. Resuscitation attempts were made at the scene before Bowker was airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital and later transferred to Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, where he died the following day.
Andrew Chapman, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, praised Quigley's bravery, stating that despite the tragic outcome, she provided the boy with the best possible chance of survival. He noted that few individuals, especially so young, would have persisted with such effort when in danger of drowning themselves, highlighting her calmness and remarkable courage. The Silver Medal is rarely awarded, and Chapman emphasized Quigley's deserving of the honor.
Lotus Bowker, from Kirkham, had entered the River Wyre near Garstang with friends on May 17, despite not being a strong swimmer. An inquest held in October concluded that Bowker died by misadventure. The coroner noted that Bowker had a developmental learning disorder that affected his ability to assess risk and often led him to copy his peers. His mother had previously warned him against entering open water. Following his death, his father released a statement urging others, particularly young people, to consider the dangers of open water swimming.
The Royal Humane Society Silver Medal is awarded for outstanding bravery in the face of extreme risk to one's own life.