The man who went into a freezing river in York and rescued someone who was moments from death has told YorkMix: “I’m no hero”.
Cyprian Madziar, the foreman of a City of York Council cleaning team, was working on Ouse Bridge last Friday morning when the drama unfolded.
A man had entered the River Ouse and people on King’s Staith had thrown a life ring – but it hadn’t reached him.
“When the guy started going under the water, I quickly took off my heaviest clothes – my boots and trousers – and went into the river,” Cyprian said.
“I swam towards the lifebuoy, took hold of it, and then moved towards the man. He appeared extremely cold and distressed. When I reached him and held him, I told him ‘I’m here to help you. You don’t die today’.
“I grabbed him and with the help of people on the riverbank, we were pulled towards the side of the river.”
Cyprian, who’s 42, along with people on the bank, then helped the man up the ladder “because his clothes were very heavy from the water”.
Where to get help
Shortly afterwards an ambulance arrived and the man was put into the care of the paramedics.
A member of the public bought Cyprian a coffee in the Slug and Lettuce next to Ouse Bridge.
“I took off my wet T-shirt and socks and I finished my coffee. I went back to the office on Silver Street. My son brought me spare clothes and I went back to work.”
It was bitterly cold and the water was barely above freezing – but Cyprian said “there was not time to think about this,.
“I just had one thought – to help this person.
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“It was cold, but at the time when I’m holding him, I’m not thinking about this.”
His incredible actions were nothing short of heroic. Does he consider himself a hero?
“Definitely not. I just saw the person who needed help. It was something I had to do, and I just did it.
“I sincerely hope that the man is now safe and that he will go on to live a long and happy life.”
Astonishingly, this is not the first time Cyprian has done something like this.
When he was 15, in his native Poland, he saw a person who was trying to hang themselves. He climbed the tree and cut the person down, saving their life.
Long settled in York, Cyprian has a wife and two children, a son aged 15 and a daughter aged 13. This year his son followed in his footsteps and intervened to save someone’s life.
“I’m definitely happy that I’ve saved someone’s life,” Cyprian told YorkMix. “But I definitely don’t feel like a hero.”
He’s had a very positive response from family and friends. “My wife and my kids were very proud.
“And when I went back to my office on Silver Street and mentioned to the team what’s happened, they were very proud.”
Would he do it again? “Definitely,” he said. “I’m always happy to help.”
