FED: Lake rescue just fate, says ferry captain

AAP General News (Australia)
08-23-1999
FED: Lake rescue just fate, says ferry captain

By Rob Taylor

CANBERRA, Aug 23 AAP - Ferry captain Alan Hocking puts his daring rescue of a toddler from
freezing waters in Canberra's Lake Burley Griffin down to fate.

Mr Hocking, 48, had not been scheduled to skipper the 15-metre Lake Explorer on 9 August
last year when three-year-old Susanna Ackroyd slipped between the boat and a wharf while
leaning over to peer through a window.

Unseen by her parents and heavily weighed down by bulky winter clothes, Susanna sank into
the lake's two degree waters without making a sound.

Mr Hocking, who alone saw her fall, said he had only decided the night before to pilot the
boat, instead of the captain rostered on that day.

"It was incredible, call it luck, call it fate. It's just one of those things that happen,"
he told AAP.

"There was about 40 people there that day, but no one else saw her go in."

Mr Hocking raced up onto the wharf and jumped into frigid water between the boat and the
wharf, but could not locate Susanna as the lake had been black and murky after recent rain.

"Then I saw bubbles and just pushed myself under and felt around with my feet until I found
her. I dragged her up using my feet," he said.

Susanna had been under water for over a minute and had stopped breathing. But she quickly
recovered after Mr Hocking gave her "a good squeeze to get out all the muck and gunk".

He said he was delighted to receive a commendation for brave conduct from the Australian
Bravery Decorations Council - and someone very special would be there to witness it.

"I still see Susanna or talk to her on the phone at least every week and I've asked her and
her family to come along to the ceremony," he said.

AAP rft/sc/kr

KEYWORD: BRAVERY HOCKING

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