Searching for the hero who saved me

LUCKY: David Muir was only three when Michael Malone dragged him from the Water of Leith. Picture: JAYNE EMSLEY

But he's never forgotten the gutsy teenage who saved his life.

Today, now aged 51, Mr Muir has launched an appeal to trace the hero who plucked him from the Water of Leith in 1963.

Mr Muir was three years old when hero Michael Malone, then 14, dived fully clothed into the water, heaving the youngster to safety before running 400 yards to the hospital with him in his arms.

Mr Muir was prompted to launch his search after the story of the dramatic rescue appeared in the Remember When... section of last Saturday's Evening News.

Mr Muir, who still bares a scar from the ordeal and has never met his rescuer, said today: "His name has been etched into my memory for all this time. I can't remember much about how it happened, only my mum's version of events really. But I had a fear of that part of the Fishquay Bridge for years after.

"Back then there used to be bollards and chains to stop you falling into the Water of Leith and as kids we would stand on the bottom chain, hang on to the top one and swing on it. That's how I think I fell in. And when I fell from the chain I hit my head before plunging into the water.

"My mum's recollection is that someone began shouting up to the window of our Bridge Street tenement (now Sandport Place] saying: 'Has David got a yellow jumper on? He's just fallen into the Water of Leith'. She came running down but by that time Michael Malone had already run me up to Leith Hospital."

For his courage, the 14-year-old lifesaver was later commended with a meritorious award and a 10 prize. His feat of bravery was also reported to the Royal Humane Society.

However, the Muir family have never had the chance to thank him.

Mr Muir said: "No one seems to know what happened to him after I was in hospital but I never saw him again. I could have walked past him in the street and not known. That's something that has played on my mind since it happened - I've never got to meet him."

At the time of the drama Mr Malone lived in Henderson Street in Leith.

Mr Muir said: "Until I saw the paper I didn't even know he'd won an award for my rescue. And when I looked at the paper it took me back. Many of the answers I had been looking for for years and years were there on the page.

"I would like to meet him right at the point where it all happened. I did try to find him myself about ten years ago and have looked on Facebook and other websites but haven't found any trace of him. It's that long ago that he might not even be alive now, he'd probably be 61 or 62.

"I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him so God knows what I would say to him. His name is etched in my mind forever and has never gone away."

• Do you know the rescuer Michael Malone? Contact reporter David McCann on 0131-620 8763..