Lib Dem MP Stephen Gilbert rescues woman from being swept away in the Thames
A Liberal Democrat MP saved the day last night as he tossed a lifebelt into the water to save a woman from being swept away down the Thames.
The openly gay MP for St Austell & Newquay Stephen Gilbert, was attending an event on the terrace at the House of Commons, overlooking the river Thames.
He saw what he thought was a body floating past, but realising that the woman was actually moving, he threw the lifebelt to her, to save her from being swept away. The woman was rescued further downstream.
Mr Gilbert was at the event held for bus operators.
He said: “What looked like a body just floated past. Then I saw that the person then moved and I followed them down the terrace.”
“There are some lifebuoys on the terrace, I guess this is not the first time something like this has happened.
“I didn’t expect for the person to move and then I didn’t expect to have to react to get them a lifebuoy.
“She disappeared towards Westminster Pier and she was rescued near to that.”
