Mother’s thanks for son’s mystery saviour from Thames tragedy

The mother of a man who was rescued from the Thames last week has thanked the anonymous person who called the police after hearing screams for saving her son’s life.

Martylee Lawther, 42, was pulled out of the river off Storer’s Quay on the Isle of Dogs by police at around 5.30 on Wednesday morning. His mother, who lives in Manchester Road, saw him on Tuesday evening just hours after he was found in the river.

Maureen, who lost her daughter to bowel cancer six months ago, said: “How he has survived a river that cold I will never know.

“If it hadn’t been for that person we would have lost him. I would like to thank that person who heard my son scream because if nobody had heard him he wouldn’t be here now.”

After being pulled to the safety of Greenwich pier, the father-of-two was taken to University Hospital Lewisham, where he remains.

Since his ordeal Martylee has drifted in and out of a coma, meaning the details of what happened remain unclear, although he has extensive bruising to his arms, as well as cuts under his chin. He was treated in intensive care at first, and has since been transferred to the high dependancy unit.

Inspector Stuart Simpson of the Metropolitan Police’s marine unit praised his officers for their repsonse to the call.

He said: “Three minutes is all anyone has in the water before hypothermia sets in.

“This is a very good example of front line policing at its best - being in the right place at the right time working with partners to act quickly to save life.”