A Croydon policeman proved he is never off duty when he saved a three-year-old boy from drowning while on his summer holiday in Malta last week.
Spencer Ogilvie – a sergeant with Croydon police – pulled the boy from the hotel swimming pool where he was staying with his family.
Other holidaymakers failed to notice the little boy struggling in the pool as crowds had gathered to chat to American pop band Maroon 5, who were filming a music video in the resort last week.
Dad-of-three Spencer said: “We were all round the pool and this little lad got pushed into the pool by the others he was playing with, they obviously thought he could swim.
“I was busy watching my kids as they played around the pool but a lot of the other parents were interested in what Maroon 5 were up to as they were just sitting round the pool with the rest of us.”
The band was at the Golden Sands resort along with Enrique Iglesias, as part of MTV International’s annual festival, Isle Of MTV.
Spencer said: “I had never even heard of the band so I wasn’t really interested and was looking over to where my boys were and I saw the toddler’s brother transfixed on something in the water.”
Spencer, who is currently off work with a cracked rib, ran over to the pool and saw the toddler at the bottom.
He said: “I just saw this little pair of eyes staring up at me – he had stopped fighting to swim and was just sinking – he must have been in there for about a minute-and-a-half to two minutes so I just jumped in and pulled him out.”
The boy’s parents came over immediately when they realised what had happened and were extremely grateful for Spencer’s help.
The toddler was checked over by the hotel’s medical staff and given a clean bill of health before the family flew home later that day.
Spencer, who has three children aged seven, four and 18 months, added: “Anyone in the same situation would have done the same as me – I am just glad that he was ok – it could have been so much worse and it really makes you think about what you would do if it was your own kids.”