An 11-year-old boy who pulled his baby sister from a garden pond was today hailed a hero by his family.

James White, of Spring Lane, Eight Ash Green, was playing football while his parents and other guests rehearsed a forthcoming wedding at a neighbour's home on Saturday.

Unnoticed in the bustle of the day Elise, two, toddled off into the garden and leaned too far over a deep garden fish pond and fell in.

James, a pupil at Stanway School, said: "I was playing football when I heard a splash and saw Elise in the water. I ran to the pond, leaned over and yanked her out by her fleece jacket."

Mum Kim, 38, was with other guests when James carried in Elise, soaking wet and crying.

"I just cried and hugged them both. James did the right thing. He could have come looking for me and it might have been too late," said Mrs White, whose other two children - Kelly and Robert - were also there.

"The fleece coat would have quickly soaked up the water and held Elise down. It was only after I had recovered from the shock of it all that I realised Elise could have drowned," she added.

"James was wonderful - he's my hero." AN eleven-year-old boy who pulled his baby sister from a garden pond was today hailed a hero by his family.

James White, of Spring Lane, Eight Ash Green, was playing football while his parents and other guests rehearsed a forthcoming wedding at a neighbour's home on Saturday.

Unnoticed in the bustle of the day Elise, two, toddled off into the garden and leaned too far over a deep garden fish pond and fell in.

James, a pupil at Stanway School, said: "I was playing football when I heard a splash and saw Elise in the water. I ran to the pond, leaned over and yanked her out by her fleece jacket."

Mum Kim, 38, was with other guests when James carried in Elise, soaking wet and crying.

"I just cried and hugged them both. James did the right thing. He could have come looking for me and it might have been too late," said Mrs White, whose other two children - Kelly and Robert - were also there.

"The fleece coat would have quickly soaked up the water and held Elise down. It was only after I had recovered from the shock of it all that I realised Elise could have drowned," she added.

"James was wonderful - he's my hero."

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