Good Samaritan dives into Yarra River to rescue toddler

A Good Samaritan in Melbourne has jumped into the Yarra River to save a toddler that had fallen off a ferry.

The three-year-old and its mother both fell from the boat about 2.30pm while it tied up at a dock near Ponyfish Island at Southbank.

A fellow passenger, who had been on the same ferry, leapt into the river and pulled the child out.

Witnesses said they saw the man emerge from the water in his underwear, holding the child.

Both mother and child were taken to hospital as a precaution, with the child not believed to be in a life-threatening condition.

Detective Darren Wright praised the efforts of the child’s rescuer, saying the situation could have been much worse if he had not taken action.

“That person’s action was quite heroic, cold conditions as you can see – a three-year-old with no swimming skills – if he wasn’t around it could have been quite dire,” Mr Wright said.