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Slough pair who saved drowning boy from hotel pool given police award

News imageNottingham Hospitals Charity John-Henry BirtleNottingham Hospitals Charity
The two hotel workers described not wanting to give up on John-Henry and spent 40 minutes giving him CPR

Two people who saved the life of a four-year-boy found drowning at the bottom of a hotel pool have received an award for their heroism.

John-Henry Birtle had spent almost nine minutes underwater at the hotel in Slough, Berkshire on 26 February.

Staff members Ewelina Marselek and Saliya Rajapakse administered CPR for 40 minutes before his pulse returned.

Thanks to them, Mum Roseann Birtle said, her son has made a "miraculous" recovery and is now back at school.

News imageThames Valley Police Dept Ch Cons John Campbell, Saliya Rajapakse, Ewelina Marselek and Ch Cons Francis HabgoodThames Valley Police
Saliya Rajapakse (middle left) and Ewelina Marselek recieved a Chief Constable Commendation award by Thames Valley Police

Ms Marselek recalled she heard "screaming" while she was working at the leisure centre of the Heathrow/Windsor Marriott hotel in Ditton Road.

She said: "I saw the dad pulling the little boy from the water. I just ran there and I saw him lying on the floor.

"He was not breathing.

"I thought 'oh my God I have to help him now'".

Mr Rajapakse said: "For some reason we just didn't stop, we didn't get tired, we kept on doing it because he needed life."

John-Henry from Newark, Nottinghamshire, had been starved of oxygen for 28 minutes.

News imageNottingham Hospitals Charity Roseann and John-Henry BirtleNottingham Hospitals Charity
Roseann Birtle said her son John-Henry has made a miraculous recovery

He spent 13 days on life support before being transferred to Nottingham Children's Hospital for specialist treatment.

A hospital spokesman said doctors were initially "pessimistic" about his recovery and his parents were told that he was unlikely to walk or talk again.

But by May, John-Henry was walking, eating and drinking normally.

Mrs Birtle, mother-of-four, said she was in a "blind panic" on the day and only recalled Ms Marselek.

"I just don't know how to start thanking her, she deserves more than a certificate.

"We call her our angel in disguise".

She wants to arrange a meeting to thank Ms Marselek in person.

The pair received a Chief Constable Commendation award from Thames Valley Police.

Ms Marselek said: "I'm so happy and I'm proud of myself".