Man hunts for guardian angel who saved him from River Wensum

Peter Hampton, 72, is trying to find the person who pulled him from the River Wensum in the summer of 1963 after being caught in a current while playing with a friend.

Mr Hampton lived in Foxley until he was 16 and now lives in Bournemouth.

He was 12 at the time of the incident, which happened after he cycled from his home to meet his friend in Lyng, near Dereham, for a swim in the river.

Mr Hampton said all was fine until he was caught in the current and was taken away from the bridge.

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“I was not a strong swimmer and quickly tired and was taken below the surface where I slipped into unconsciousness and was most certainly about to drown,” he said.

“I came to on the riverbank where I was told somebody had seen what was happening and had jumped from the top of the bridge, found me and took me to the bank.

“When I somewhat recovered I got changed, got on my bicycle, and rode home not daring to tell my mother what had happened.”

Peter Hampton, from Bournemouth, is trying to find the person who pulled him from the River Wensum in the summer of 1963 (Image: Submitted)

It was not until he was in his 40s that Mr Hampton finally told his mum about what happened.

Now, he is hoping to find the person who pulled him from the river so he can finally thank them.

Mr Hampton said: "I do not even know if they would still be alive, as they must have been in their 20s.

“It is something that’s been nagging at me for many years, it was obviously a very traumatic experience,” he added.

“The memory of actually drowning I can remember like it was yesterday, sinking in the water, everything going black, and then waking up on the bank."

Upper reaches of the river Wensum near the Norfolk hamlet of Fustyweed, between Lyng and Elsing (Image: Bill Smith)

Mr Hampton can be contacted by email at thehamptons48@sky.com