Two local residents have been praised after bravely going to the aid of a boy who got into difficulty in a lake at Tilgate Park in Crawley.
Emergency services were called shortly after 4.30pm on Saturday, December 13, after concerns were raised for the welfare of a young person in the water.
Before emergency crews arrived, two members of the public entered the lake to help the boy. One of the rescuers was later identified as Naeem Rostayee. His father took to social media following the incident to praise the actions of those involved.
He said:
“One of the rescuers was my son. We are very thankful that everyone is safe and he is doing well. I was there during the rescue.”
The second rescuer, known locally as “Bass Man”, also shared his account of the dramatic rescue. He said:
“I was the other guy who went into the water.” I can’t thank Rahim enough. When I saw you coming in, I immediately felt safer. What you did was just enough for me to get back out with the poor guy who was drowning.
“The water was too cold for me, and I was really worried I’d cramp up. Thanks again to you especially, and to the people who supported us going in. The ambulance services, firefighters and police were absolutely amazing. Thank you all.”
South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) confirmed it attended the incident. A spokesperson said:
“South East Coast Ambulance Service was called to reports of concern for the welfare of a person in the lake at Tilgate Park, Crawley, shortly after 16.30hrs on Saturday, 13 December 2025.
“The patient was recovered and assessed and treated by ambulance crews at the scene before being taken to East Surrey Hospital for further treatment.”
The boy is understood to be safe, and the actions of the two rescuers have been widely praised by members of the local community.
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