A BRAVE Stourport 10-year-old boy who helped save his best friend from plunging into a canal has been given a top national award.

The Royal Humane Society has awarded Stourport Primary School pupil Callum Oliver a Certificate of Commendation for his heroics.

Callum Oliver and his pal Lidia Connolly were riding their bikes along the canal towpath back in March when she swerved to avoid a duck that had waddled in front of her.

But the bike’s front wheel went over the canal edge and terrified Lidia and her cycle started slipping down towards the water.

Quick-thinking Callum leapt off his bike and managed to drag both his friend and her cycle back over the edge to stop her from going in and potentially drowning.

His proud mum Kayleigh said modest Callum didn’t realise the extent of his actions, even after being nominated for the award by his school.

She said: “They were riding their bikes and had gone ahead of Lidia’s mum, who was walking behind, when a duck came in front of her. She swerved to avoid hitting it but lost control and ended up going over the edge.

“She started slipping down but Callum didn’t panic. He just threw his own bike down and rushed to grab both Lidia and her bike and used all his strength to pull her back from falling completely into the water.

“Thankfully she wasn’t hurt but was terrified when it was happening. We dread to think what might have happened if she’d gone into the water. She could have drowned so Callum saved his best friend’s life.

“Lidia kept hugging Callum afterwards and she keeps telling everyone about what he did. They held a ‘Heroes Day’ at the school and Lidia went dressed as Callum!

“Callum said he acted without thinking about it when it happened and he certainly didn’t think about himself. And he didn’t realise it was such a big thing that he had done.

“But I think it’s amazing and I am so proud of him. He used his strength which seemed to come out of nowhere.

“He has been presented with the award and it has taken pride of place on our mantelpiece.”