Fire engineering student Turki receives international acclaim for saving local dog walker from drowning
A student from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) has hit the international news headlines and been hailed a ‘superhero’ after jumping into the icy waters of the River Ribble to save a dog walker from drowning.
Turki Al-Shammari, 27, studying Fire safety engineering, put all fears for his own safety and social distancing aside as he fought for 15 minutes to drag local man Dean Lowe to safety. Dean had gone into the fast-flowing water to try to save his dog.
"I’m just glad that Dean is alive. I feel blessed that I was able to help."
— UCLan student Turki Al-Shammari
After being reunited with his rescuer, a grateful Dean said: “I owe Turki my life and I will never forget what he did for me. I can’t thank him enough."
Turki, who is in the final year of his UCLan degree after studying for two years at partner institution the International College of Engineering and Management, Oman, admitted he was humbled by all the attention - the story of his dramatic rescue has already reached the Saudi media and the Saudi Embassy. He said: “I’m just glad that Dean is alive. I feel blessed that I was able to help.”