Heroic rower relives ordeal

An Oxford University rower who swam across a river in gale-force winds to save 15 colleagues has talked for the first time of his ordeal.

Hugh Wright is to be presented with one of the highest awards for bravery tomorrow, when he is reunited with the 15 University Lightweight Rowing Club members he helped to save from a Spanish river nearly 18 months ago.

Mr Wright will receive a Royal Humane Society silver medal at an awards ceremony.

Also present will be the family of Leo Blockley, 21, who drowned during the accident on the River Ebro at Amposta in north-eastern Spain where the team trains during winter.

Mr Wright, 23, was with his squad during Christmas 2000 when freak gale-force winds whipped up the river, capsizing two lightweight boats.

The medical student swam more than 100 metres to search for Mr Blockley before he reached the shore and raised the alarm, while the others clung to their upturned boats.

After rescue craft scrambled to the scene, the survivors were treated in hospital for hypothermia. Speaking publicly for the first time since the ordeal, Mr Wright said it was an honour to be recognised with the award. "I don't feel like a hero or anything. You just do what you can at the time," he said.

Mr Wright still rows but said he would never forget the horror of 29 December 2000.

He said: "You move on but I think about it at odd times like when I'm on rough waters. I remember the waves being way over my head. There was not much time to think. It never occurred to me the situation was life-threatening.''

As Mr Wright saw Mr Blockley disappear he ignored his advice to the crew to stay with the upturned boat. "I worked out where Leo had been and just went there," he said. " Unfortunately I couldn't save him."

The silver medal has only been given out three times in the past seven years. Royal Humane Society secretary Major General Christopher Tyler said: "In all my years as secretary, it is one of the most spectacular cases I've ever come across."

The presentation was delayed to allow for a coroner's inquiry into the accident.