Mother's Final Moments With Son After Drowning
Becky Hinde rested her hand over her eight-year-old son Josh's heart as it stopped beating after his life support was switched off. The little boy drowned while paddling in the River Arrow in Alcester during a summer evening dog walk, just one hour and 44 minutes before his ninth birthday. His presents remained at home, unopened.
Sister's Heroic Attempt to Save Josh
Josh's sister Caitlyn-Ann, then 10, jumped into the river to rescue him. She managed to hold his hand but he slipped through her fingers as they tried to reach the bank. Becky described the act as 'the purest kind of love.' Josh was in the water for about five minutes before several people, including a policeman, pulled him out. The officer performed CPR and restarted his heart.
Hospital Ordeal and Final Goodbye
Becky was blue-lighted to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where Josh was having seizures and his lungs were bleeding. Despite initial signs of rallying, by 8pm doctors said he was having constant seizures. The family made the heartbreaking decision to let him go. Becky and Josh's father Carl held him as he died. Becky said: 'I had my hand on his heart as it stopped beating.'
Campaign for Water Safety
Becky has joined the Mirror's 'Save Lives for Sam' campaign, which describes drowning in the UK as an 'epidemic' and 'national emergency.' The campaign is backed by the RNLI, Royal Life Saving Society UK, MPs, Olympic champions, and bereaved families. It calls for compulsory water safety lessons in schools, a nationwide public awareness campaign, better lifesaving equipment at high-risk waterways, the introduction of Sam's Law, and a dedicated Minister for Water Safety.
Becky said: 'When you hear about a heatwave coming, your heart is in your throat. People need to understand and recognise that water doesn't care who you are, how big you are, how strong you are, it will take you.' She added: 'If Josh's story can help anyone I'm okay with that. Everyone thinks it will not happen to them and it happened to me.'
Josh's Legacy
Josh's school created a kindness award in his name. His classmate Georgia Cuthbertson climbed Mount Snowdon in his memory to raise funds for Birmingham Children's Hospital. Becky said: 'That was beautiful. This is two years later and you can see the love they have for Josh.' She also has a tattoo made using ink mixed with his ashes.
