BS: Good catch!!

Subject: BS: Good catch!!
From: katlaughing
Date: 10 Dec 05 - 02:48 PM

Another use for rugby:

Baby thrown from burning building

Press Association
Saturday December 10, 2005 3:38 PM

An ex-rugby player relied on his safe pair of hands to catch a baby boy after his mother was forced to drop him out of her burning home.

Katie Rogers, 19, said neighbour Mike Webber was a hero for safely catching her nine-month-old son Brandon.

Burly ex-prop forward with Newport Saracens Mr Webber, 38, said he imagined Brandon was a rugby ball as he waited to catch him falling from a first-floor window in Barrack Hill, Newport.

Mr Webber's proud wife Lorraine, 40, from Harlequin Court, Barrack Hill, said her husband did what anyone else would have done.

Mr Webber used his 19-stone frame to shoulder-charge the front door open so Miss Rogers and her family could escape.

Mrs Webber said: "He was first on the scene and because of his strength he could get through the door and was able to help."

But because the smoke was so thick on the ground floor of Miss Rogers' home in Harlequin Drive, Barrack Hill, she was forced to drop her son. Mrs Webber said: "It's lucky Mike has a safe pair of hands after playing rugby for so many years."

Miss Rogers said she took the decision because she feared for Brandon's safety in the smoke.

She said: "I didn't want to throw him but the smoke was so thick and he was coughing and spluttering. In the end I had to let go and Mike caught him."

Miss Rogers and Brandon, along with her elder son Ashley, two, her mother Lesley, 45, and sister Rachel, 17, were treated for breathing in smoke. Cause of the blaze was not yet known.

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 10 Dec 05 - 03:06 PM

Nice 'try'

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: wysiwyg
Date: 10 Dec 05 - 04:45 PM

SCORE!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Peace
Date: 10 Dec 05 - 05:08 PM

Really cool.

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Hrothgar
Date: 11 Dec 05 - 05:21 AM

A prop with a good pair of hands?

Indeed a miracle!

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Dec 05 - 05:26 AM

So why isn't he playing for a bigger team?!

(Thinks... a soccer player would have shouldered the door and then spent 15 mins rolling on the floor in pretend agony in an attempt to get the penalty).

And good to know you have such neighbours.

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 11 Dec 05 - 10:26 AM

Isn't there a song about this in which the footballer bounces the baby and then kicks him into touch?

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: GUEST,Jacko lover
Date: 11 Dec 05 - 07:49 PM

Was Michael Jackson somehow involved?.....seems he may have dropped a child if he had not been lucky!

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: HuwG
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 04:09 AM

"Mr Webber used his 19-stone frame to shoulder-charge the front door open so Miss Rogers and her family could escape."

Thinks... Did he stop to check the sign which said "Pull" first ?

Good catch though.

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 08:05 AM

Anyone who can shoulder-charge a door open is a hero and a big, big guy as far as I'm concerned - have any of you ever tried it? Not easy, not easy at all.

And a soccer player would just have bounced off and claimed the door fouled him!

S:0)

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Strollin' Johnny
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 08:14 AM

And an American Fottball player would have waited for the armour and cheerleaders to arrive.

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Bunnahabhain
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 11:46 AM

Meanwhile, the Aussie rules football player calls him a 'whining pom poof', and head-butts the door down.....

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: GUEST,Me
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 01:49 PM

And the very occasional mudcatter would hit it with his bodrhan? or banjo? either would do as at least it would be one less!

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Tannywheeler
Date: 12 Dec 05 - 02:33 PM

At last--a valid use for sport. All it does in our house is make hubby turn the air BLUE when watching his teams playing basketball or (American)football on TV. Thickly, loudly BLUE. But it's all worth it if it made a man able to save a baby.....Tw

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: Paul Burke
Date: 13 Dec 05 - 04:14 AM

Yes, but he was a Union player, so when he caught the kid, he immediately punted him 50 yards down the field...

Subject: RE: BS: Good catch!!
From: sian, west wales
Date: 13 Dec 05 - 04:19 AM

Hey! Call him 'whining'. Call him 'puff'. But he's a Taff, not a Pom. Saw him on the news. That's one burly lad ...

siân