A BOLTON schoolgirl has emerged as one of the heroes of a dramatic rescue which saved the life of girl of 12 who plunged 30ft into a freezing river.

Emma Fletcher, aged 12, of Greenway Close was in a nearby field with her brother Paul, 17, and her 12-year-old friend Gareth Morledge when Stacey Wiggans fell into Eagley Brook on Thursday night.

As reported in Friday's BEN, Stacey was seriously injured in the accident, which happened near Hall i'th' Wood Museum.

The trio saw a man in the stream holding the injured girl clear of the water.

Emma jumped into the bitter cold brook and helped the man by wrapping her jumper round Stacey's head while her brother ran to a nearby farm to alert the fire brigade.

Her friend Gareth then led the firefighters to the hidden spot at the foot of a sheer banking where the accident had happened. Smithills School pupil Emma said: "I jumped into the river and the water was freezing. I'm just glad we were there because the man would have been left on his own."

The mystery man who helped in the drama was later traced by the BEN and identified as Arthur Pilling. But he shunned publicity.

However, fire chiefs have praised him and the others who helped in the rescue. Stacey, of Tithe Barn Crescent, Hall i' th' Wood, was today said to be improving in Booth Hall Children's Hospital.

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