Latest news with #JoshHobbs
Fox News
a day ago
- General
- Fox News
Boat explodes on the river and a peaceful vacation walk turns into a desperate rescue
A brave couple saved the lives of six people after a boat exploded on the River Thames. Josh Hobbs, 35, and Hannah Lloyd-Hobbs, 34, both jumped into the river to rescue four children and two adults, including an 18-month-old baby, news agency SWNS and other outlets reported. The couple said they were in the "right place at the right time" on Saturday, May 31, when they witnessed the blaze — which police described as an act of "heroic bravery." The couple were on vacation from Wales, walking their dog just minutes away from the river. Hobbs told SWNS, "We were less than 10 minutes into our walk, about 100 meters from the river." He added, "There was an almighty bang, the kind where the air pressure hits your head." Lloyd-Hobbs initially thought it was a confetti cannon, she said, but her husband suspected a gas barbecue had exploded. They immediately heard desperate cries from the boat and sprinted toward the scene. "They were screaming back to say they couldn't swim." People on the boat "were screaming back to say they couldn't swim," said Hobbs. "We tried to reassure them that jumping in the river was the better of two outcomes." Some people on board finally took the plunge into the water. "One of them was an 18-month-old — Hannah instantly dived in to grab the baby," he said. Holding his dog's leash, he shouted for the others to get off the boat while his wife helped the baby onto the bank, he said. She told SWNS, "I handed the child to Josh before getting out myself." He then jumped in to help the other children, three of whom reportedly couldn't swim. "I remember grabbing two young children and getting them to the bank, then going back for more," he said. He noticed a family member desperately holding a three-year-old and said, "I grabbed the child as well." "At one point, I had four people hanging off me." He also described seeing a woman struggling underwater and pulling her to safety. "I think her husband panicked and grabbed me, too," he said. Treading water and shouting for help, Hobbs managed to get the three-year-old to another bystander while his wife stayed with the baby. "At one point, I had four people hanging off me," Hobbs recalled. The explosion was heard for miles, drawing a crowd that helped pull everyone from the water and administer first aid, SWNS reported. The group felt relief only when air ambulance crews arrived on the scene. Wiltshire Police confirmed five adults and four children, aged 18 months to seven years, ended up in the water. Nine people were hospitalized, with three in stable condition. Some suffered potentially life-changing injuries, SWNS reported. Detective Superintendent Joe Garrity of the Wiltshire Police Department said, "It is a miracle there were no fatalities … Much of that must be put down to the response of two [vacationers] from Wales who happened to be passing." "With no thought for their own safety, they jumped into the Thames to help save the lives of those involved." "It is a miracle there were no fatalities." Hobbs said they've stayed in contact with police to check on those rescued. "In the heat of the moment, we just did what we did," he told SWNS. Lloyd-Hobbs added, "We hope the families are doing OK and wish them a speedy recovery."
BBC News
3 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Lechlade boat explosion sees couple rescue six people
A couple who saved the lives of four children and two adults have been praised for their "heroic bravery" after a boat exploded on the River Thames. Josh Hobbs, 35, and Hannah Lloyd-Hobbs, 34, from Rhayader, Powys, leapt into the water to save six people after the boat burst into flames. The couple were walking along the Thames with their dog near Lechlade while on holiday on the Wiltshire-Oxfordshire border on Saturday 31 May when the incident took place. Det Supt Joe Garrity, of Wiltshire Police, said it was a "miracle" there were no fatalities, adding much of that was down to the response of the couple. Mr Hobbs said the couple were less than 10 minutes into their walk when they heard an "almighty bang – the kind where the air pressure around your head goes".The couple said they looked round and instantly heard screaming on the boat. Mr Hobbs said those on the boat were shouting that they could not swim but the pair reassured them to jump in the river."I think my voice tone changed and people ended up in the water. One of them was an 18-month-old – Hannah instantly dived in to grab the baby. I had my foot on the dog's lead and was screaming for the others to get off the boat," he said. Ms Lloyd-Hobbs rescued the baby and returned to the river bank, while Mr Hobbs entered the water and grabbed the two young children, taking them to the bank."There was a three-year-old being held up by a family member. He was in desperation as he couldn't swim and was trying to keep the child above the water," he said. "This lady had been underwater for quite some time, and I think she was in a worse place in terms of her condition so I grabbed her. At the same time I think her husband, in panic, also jumped on me as well."Mr Hobbs, who managed to get the three-year-old to safety, said at one point his partner looked back and there were four people hanging off him. The explosion was heard for miles around bringing other members of the public to the scene. They helped Mr Hobbs get the rest of the party out of the water and stepped in to administer first aid, relaxing only when the air ambulance crews Police said five adults and four children aged from 18 months to seven years old ended up in the water. Nine people were taken to hospital where three remain in a stable condition. Two people, including the 18-month-old child, suffered potentially life-changing Supt Garrity said it was a "miracle that there were no fatalities"."Much of that must be put down to the response of two holidaymakers from Wales who happened to be passing."With no thought for their own safety they jumped into the Thames to help save the lives of those involved – some of whom couldn't swim," he said.
Daily Mail
5 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
How hero holidaymakers leapt into the River Thames after a boat exploded with four children on board - and then joined locals for a pint afterwards
Two hero holidaymakers jumped into the Thames to save a baby when a boat exploded - and then went to the pub for a pint. The Good Samaritans were walking their dog along the riverbank in Lechlade, Gloucestershire, when they saw flames raging from the vessel. The male and female married couple, from Wales, leapt into the cold water to rescue the infant and two adults from the blaze. They have been named on social media as Josh Hobbs and Hannah Lloyd-Hobbs, with local Martin Elsender describing the former as 'a proper life-saving hero'. They then went to the nearby New Inn boozer where they cleaned up before being bought a pint and a gin and tonic. Charlie Lyne, who paid for the drinks, told the Swindon Advertiser: 'The lady was clearly in shock when she came in, but after a double G&T she left feeling a lot happier. 'The chap is a true hero and a gentleman. After his pint, he went on with his day.' Detective Superintendent Joe Garrity, of Wiltshire Police, said it was a 'miracle' no one had died and praised the holidaymakers, saying: 'It was heroic bravery.' All nine people on board, five adults and four children aged 18 months to seven years, were taken to hospital where three people remain in a stable condition Mr Elsender told ITV there were two adults and a baby in the water and Josh 'jumped straight in without any thinking'. 'There would have been lives lost without Josh's intervention, without a shadow of a doubt,' he said. Officers received a report of a boat fire at around noon on Saturday, Wiltshire Police said. At the time of the incident, the boat was away from the bank and, as a result, all of those on board ended up in the water, according to the force. All nine people on board, five adults and four children aged 18 months to seven years, were taken to hospital where three people remain in a stable condition, police said on Monday afternoon. Two of those still in hospital, including the 18-month-old child, have suffered potentially life-changing burns, the force added. Detective Superintendent Joe Garrity of Wiltshire Police said it was a 'miracle' no one had died and praised the 'heroic bravery' of two holidaymakers who were passing by and had entered the water to help those involved. He said: 'Our thoughts are with those affected by this tragic incident. 'It is a miracle there were no fatalities, and much of that must be put down to the response of two holidaymakers from Wales who happened to be passing. 'With no thought for their own safety, they jumped into the Thames to help save the lives of those involved, some of whom couldn't swim. 'It was heroic bravery. 'I would also like to thank Gloucestershire and Thames Valley police officers who were the first to respond to the incident, RAF Fairford who also provided support, and the ambulance and fire services. 'A cordon remains in place on the river to ensure the safety of other canal users and for further inquiries into the cause of the explosion to be carried out. 'The boat itself also needs to be recovered. 'This scene is likely to remain in place for the next few days.' Anyone with relevant information has been urged to contact Wiltshire Police quoting log 129 of May 31.
