South Yorkshire Times May 2nd 1953

Wath Canal Rescue

Unobtrusive Hero’s Presence of Mind Saves Girl.

A shy rather retiring Wath man, known to hundreds of Wath people, showed great courage and pluck when he rescued a four-year-old Wath girl on Saturday from the canal.

Mr. Harold Gaskell, of 25, Doncaster Road, was finishing decorating the ceiling of his front room when he heard a commotion outside, the voices of neighbours and the shrieking of children.

He quickly ran out and saw a group of children pointing into the canal which fronts Mr. Gaskell’s house. There he saw bubbles slowly breaking the greasy surface, slipping off his smock he jumped into the water fully dressed and searched the muddy depths for the child.

Meanwhile a small crowd had gathered, and to many it seemed like an age before Mr. Gaskell appeared, gripping little Muriel Cotton, youngest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. A. Cotton, of 24, Winifred Road. She was just a limp bundle and her features appeared blue and lifeless. However thanks to the prompt attention of neighbours she was soon restored to consciousness. Meanwhile, Mrs. Louise Gaskell worked on in the front room with her paintbrush quite unaware of the rescue.

A Miracle

I next door neighbour, Mrs. T. Kurt, said “I was attracted by the noise, but by the time I got outside I was only just in time to see Mr Gaskell coming past my door, he was in an awful state. Look old and haggard. But it was that child who amazed me. How she kept alive I do not know. It must have been a miracle.”

When our reporter called on Wednesday Muriel was playing with other children, none the worse for her adventure. She said “I was playing with my brother, Roy, and some of the boys and girls when I suddenly saw a frog jump into the water and the next thing I knew I was being comforted by a nice lady.”

Mrs. Cotton was badly shaken. “As a rule, Muriel never ventures away from the house. She is my seventh child and she has never been a moment’s trouble.” Mrs. Cotton said, adding that she was very grateful for all Mr. Gaskell had done.

“I’ll never be able to thank him enough,” she said.

For many years Mr Gaskell has been employed by the Barnsley British co-operative Society, and he is well known to the hundreds of men and women in Wath. “He is so shy,” his wife said, “I’ll bet he hasn’t  told a sole of his gallant rescue.”