Former British flat jockey George Chaloner helped save a child from drowning last weekend, having to swim out to rescue the stricken youngster when on holiday with his family.
Ex-Jockey George Chaloner Saves Child From Drowning In Heroic Act
More recent horse racing fans might not have heard of former jockey George Chaloner – as he was forced to retired from the saddle with injury back in 2017.
However, those that do remember the ex-flat rider will be praising him for saving a child from drowning last weekend.
Chaloner, who is now a stud manager at Cliff Stud in North Yorkshire, swapped the stirrups for the Speedos when on holiday last weekend to help a stricken youngster in the sea.
Partner Describes George Chaloner As ‘A Real Life Hero’
The news came about after his partner Daisy posted the act of bravery on her Facebook page – labelling him “a real-life hero”.
Chaloner was on holiday at the time in Filey Bay with his partner and kids – which is situated just north of Beverley racecourse in North Yorkshire, where the former jockey used to ride.
When he heard shouts of ‘help’ coming from the sea.
When asked to explain what happened in more detail, Chaloner said.
“We went on holiday to Filey with the kids. And were at the end of Filey Bay, Reighton Sands, with the boys all day. We were just about ready to go and there were some shouts of ‘help’ from the sea.
“Everyone stopped and looked but no-one went down. After ten or 15 seconds, I went down with another tall lad. A woman at the side of the sea said ‘those kids are drowning, I can’t swim’.”
He ended up going in the seas with another to help – and in the process saving the 8 year-old from drowning.
“The kids were playing in the breakers but the tide had come in and pushed them into a pool and they’d got out of their depth. I couldn’t touch the floor there.
“There were two girls who were shouting ‘my brother, my brother!’ and pointing to a little lad about 15 or 20 feet away. He was eight or nine and when I got to him he was being pulled out by the rip tide, on his last legs and about to go under.
“I got him and swam him halfway back where someone had come out with a half-bodyboard and we got him on that and brought him back.”
Chaloner Had Done A Lifeguard Course When Younger
“I haven’t swum properly for years, but I did a lifeguard thing when I was young and I’m confident in currents.”
“The kids were fine but they were jiggered and so was I. I’m not as fit as I used to be and I’d legged it from the top of the beach, swum out about 50 feet and brought the lad back in. I was ready for a cup of tea!”
“It turned out two women we had seen were the kids’ mothers, but they were deaf and didn’t hear them shouting; they just saw them splashing about and didn’t know they were in trouble.”
George Chaloner Rode 200 Winners But Career Was Cut Short With Injury
Ex-jockey George Chaloner was a graduate from the National Horseracing College and during his time in the saddle rode over 200 winners on the flat.
However, at the age of just 25 his career was also plagued with injury and was forced to retire in 2017.
Including in one fall at Wolverhampton that he broke his foot and fractured his vertebrae.
One of biggest wins came when steering home Baccarat in the 2014 Wokingham at Royal Ascot.
That same season, Chaloner also rode the winner of the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle on Angel Gabrial (watch below).
With the York Ebor Festival on the horizon next week, Chaloner has also said he’ll be in action at the meeting – not returning to the saddle, but as lead horseman at the meeting.
Where we could see the 3 year-old speed-ball filly from Ireland – Lady Iman – who is heading up the market with the UK betting sites for the Nunthorpe Stakes.
