A FAMILY is looking to thank the hero who helped their 82-year-old mother after she fell headfirst from her wheelchair into the River Thames.

Gertie Bavington was left with blood pouring from her head after plummeting ten feet when her wheelchair came off a path in Bray, near Maidenhead, last Monday.

Mrs Bavington's son, Andrew, had been pushing her along when bushes became so thick they couldn't see the edge of the footpath.

After carefully guiding the chair, disaster struck when one of the wheels went over the side, pulling Mr Bavington and his mother down a ten foot drop.

As Vanessa Bavington, Andrew's sister, rushed over to see what had happened, she too lost her footing and landed on top of her family.

Miss Bavington, 44, from Little Chalfont, said: "There was a ten foot drop and she went head first and injured her head. I went up to the edge and I fell down as well. We all landed on mum, including the wheelchair.

"I realised my mum had a two inch gash on her head. The whole thing was like a horror film. We managed to right the wheelchair and sit her in that, but we were in about three foot of water."

As soon as they called for help a man passing on a motor cruiser went to the aid of the stricken family.

Miss Bavington said: "He got a boat to come from the marina with a first aid box as she was bleeding so badly.

"He was marvellous. I was surrounded by tissue covered in blood and he even thought to slow the boats down as the water was really splashing about. He even dived in to get her and hauled her up."

She said: "All I managed to get out of him was that he was Sergeant Major and his name was Hugh Billington. I think he said he was from the Blues and Royal Regiment."

She would really like to meet Mr Billington again to show her appreciation.

If you know the mystery hero, contact reporter Victoria Birch on 01494 755090.