A MAN has been reunited with one of his heroes who saved him from drowning at a Redditch swimming pool 50 years ago.
Back in November 1973, six-year-old Adam Bayliss was having a swimming lesson at the now demolished Hewell Road swimming baths when panic struck, and he began to drown.
Adam was pulled out by two boys, not much older than himself, and his swimming teacher managed to resuscitate him on the side of the pool.
After spending time at Smallwood Hospital, Adam made a full recovery.
Fast forward 50 years, and thanks to the power of Facebook, Adam has connected with one of the boys who saved his life.
Adam, now 56, said he remembers the day ‘like it was yesterday’.
He said: “My mum was in the spectators’ area and she said just do not let go of the sides and ironically I did let go of the edge.
“I remember not really struggling but trying to keep my head above water.
“I remember breathing in water and thinking I’m going to be okay - I can breathe in water - as at the age of six you don’t really know what’s going on.
“I remember the ceiling getting further and further away and it was calm and quiet.
“The next thing I remember is waking up on the side of the pool then waking up again in Smallwood Hospital a few days later.
“My heart stopped for three minutes when I got pulled out of the water and then it stopped again in the ambulance on the way to the hospital.
“All I have known is that two boys pulled me out of the water and a man resuscitated me on the side.”
Adam said when he was 18, he bumped into one of the boys who pulled him out at Leys High School, now known as Tudor Grange Academy.
“He recognised me and asked if I was called Adam and if it was me who drowned in the swimming pool all those years ago and he told me he pulled me out," said Adam.
"I now know his name is Andrew Laidlaw.”
A few weeks ago an image of Hewell Road swimming baths was posted on a Facebook community group called Redditch Area Past and Present.
Adam, who moved from Redditch to Nuneaton in 1990, added: “A man had commented saying he rescued a boy from drowning in the 1970s and I put two and two together and replied saying it was me.”
The man in question was Phillip Bond and since then the pair have been in touch and are hoping to meet in person in the future.
“Philip said he pulled me out and a gentleman called Stephen Saunders, a swimming teacher, performed CPR on me, I have also been n touch with Stephen’s daughter,” said Adam.
“If it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be here today.
“Stephen has passed now so I never got to thank him.
“It was nice to speak to Phil - we have never met but would like to.”
Phillip said he can still remember ‘Adam’s weightless body’ in his hands.
“My friend Andrew and I thought he was dead,” said Phil, aged 63.
“I remember that night not sleeping and in shock - people were saying how brave we were - I was just concerned for Adam and praying we did enough to save him.
“And now he’s 56 and had a life - it’s my legacy to humankind.”
Phil and Andrew were given free passes to the swimming baths for the next year as recognition for their bravery.
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