A carpenter from Evesham has been praised as a hero after diving into the River Avon to rescue an elderly woman who had fallen into the water at Corporation Meadow. Footage of the rescue, which was shared widely online, shows Samer Jouha pulling the woman to safety before a rescue boat reached the scene. According to local coverage, the incident happened on 1 August, and the woman has since been named as 80-year-old Wendy Snell.
What happened during the rescue?
Jouha said he became aware something was wrong when he noticed a distressed child near the riverbank. Speaking to the BBC, he recalled the moment he realised someone was in danger.
I saw a child walking down the river. He was in shock. He saw someone in the water. I thought I'd go check, and I saw an old woman in the water lying on her back. She was a bit far from the edge.
As soon as I saw her in the water, I just jumped to try to get her to the surface or closer to the edge.
He described the moment he reached her, saying the woman gripped his arm as he brought her towards the bank.
By the time I got her to the edge, the poor lady was holding onto my arm. The rescue boat then came and gave us a hand getting her out.
According to the same local report, Jouha said he had entered the water at a point roughly 1.5 metres deep, and that he had reacted after hearing what he described as a loud splash. He reflected on his motivation for helping, framing it as a duty to those around him.
I just saw somebody in need and I just jumped in to help her. This is part of humanity. If anyone needs help, I just help.
Jouha, who has lived in the UK for eight years after seeking refuge with his family, said he felt a responsibility to give something back to the community that had supported him.
The UK provided us with a house, work and my children's safety. It's time for us to pay back the community.
The rescue was captured on video and later spotted on Facebook by the woman's family, who arranged to meet Jouha at his home. Local reporting indicates the family met him the following day to offer their thanks.
How is Samer Jouha being recognised?
Jouha's son, Mo, explained that his father's phone and other belongings were ruined during the rescue at the start of August, but that this was never a consideration at the time.
My dad was proud to be there and help here. He didn't think about the value of stuff in his pockets or anything. He restored faith in humanity.
A fundraising page was set up to help replace Jouha's damaged phone, and according to the campaign page, it had collected £545 from 57 donations as of 2 August. Separately, staff at a local Currys store stepped in to donate him a new smartphone directly. Martin Raper, Head of UK Stores at Currys, explained the company's decision.
We were incredibly moved by Samer's selfless actions in helping to save someone's life. When we heard his phone had been damaged in the process, we felt it was a small way for us to support someone who had shown such extraordinary kindness and courage. We hope Sam enjoys his new phone and receives the recognition he truly deserves.
Town councillor Emma Nishigaki, who is understood to have helped organise the fundraising effort, stressed how hazardous that stretch of the river can be.
I know how dangerous the Avon is. It's got undercurrents. Very few people go into this stretch and come out again alive, unless they're very proficient swimmers.
He lost his mobile phone, his keys, his wallet, his cash.
Jouha's seven-year-old son, Adam, was credited with raising the alarm after his father entered the water, and Nishigaki has said she hopes to reward the boy with a bicycle. Mo, reflecting on his father's actions, said the family had been inspired to follow his example.
I'm really grateful to have a dad like him. I'm proud to call him my father. I wish for me, my two brothers and my sister to be like my father. As soon as we see somebody in need, to go help them.
Why is the River Avon considered dangerous?
Concerns about the safety of this stretch of the River Avon are not new. Earlier incidents on Worcestershire waterways, including separate cases in 2022 and 2023, have ended in fatalities, according to previous reporting. Hereford and Worcester Fire Service issued renewed water-safety warnings after a death on the River Avon near Evesham in 2023, as noted in a report from that year. Local officials say such incidents underline why bystanders are often warned against entering the water themselves.
What happens next?
No further hearings, decisions or scheduled events relating to the rescue have been confirmed in available reporting. Local residents and officials, including Nishigaki, appear to be continuing informal efforts to recognise both Jouha and his son Adam for their roles in the rescue.
Key Facts
- Samer Jouha rescued an elderly woman from the River Avon at Corporation Meadow, Evesham, on 1 August.
- The woman has been named locally as 80-year-old Wendy Snell.
- Jouha's damaged phone was replaced by staff at a local Currys store after a fundraising page raised £545 from 57 donations.
- His seven-year-old son, Adam, alerted others to the emergency and may be rewarded with a bicycle.
- Previous fatal incidents on Worcestershire waterways in 2022 and 2023 have prompted repeated safety warnings.
