Leisure World Colchester swimmer saved drowning pensioner

David Robinson rushed into the water after Derek Snelgrove, 68, got into difficulty having hurtled out of a flume at Colchester’s Leisure World.

Colchester resident Mr Snelgrove said he believed he was going to die after becoming disorientated and struggling to stay afloat, but his saviour grabbed his arm and pulled him free.

However, Mr Robinson, a law enforcement officer at Newham Council, has played down the hero talk, claiming he simply saw a man struggling and stepped forward to help.

Hero - David Robinson

The 45-year-old was sitting at the bottom of the flume exit steps with his young daughter waiting for his girlfriend to exit the adjacent chute when the incident unfolded.

“We just saw this guy come out of the tube really fast, it was like a tsunami had hit the water,” said Mr Robinson, who had travelled from his home in Luton to Colchester for a car festival.

He continued: “It was perfect timing, obviously I just had to be there at that time. The universe has its ways of making things work and in this case it ended up helping someone out.

“I just saw the man flailing about before he stood up then fell over into the ropes, then got up before falling over again.

Rescued - Derek Snelgrove

“I think he winded himself and got a bit disorientated, the speed he came out the tube at was like a bullet out of a gun.

“He was obviously in trouble and it could’ve gone bad quick. All I did was a little gesture of stepping forward and pulling him up.

“In his situation it must have been absolutely terrifying. The water can be quite a scary place but I’m not an angel, I just helped someone in need.”

Following efforts from the Gazette to unite the pair, Mr Snelgrove said he was “over the moon” to be able to reach out to his “guardian angel”.

The pensioner said he will be looking to call Mr Robinson “as soon as possible”.