Olympic swimming pay tribute to homeless hero

Tribute: Ian Thorpe honours Adan Abobaker
12 April 2012

A homeless man who dived into the Thames to save a drowning woman has revealed he is set to become a lifeguard.

Olympic swimming stars Ian Thorpe and Mark Foster led the tributes to Adan Abobaker when he was honoured in an awards ceremony at the House of Commons yesterday.

Mr Abobaker, 37, dived into the icy waters near Blackfriars Bridge after hearing a passer-by scream for help last November. He managed to pull the woman, who had apparently thrown herself in, to shore but was left on the verge of hypothermia and had his clothes and tea flask stolen from the river bank.

At the time, Mr Abobaker was staying in a St Mungo's homeless hostel in Southwark. He is now in a rented flat in Northolt and is set to start training to safeguard swimmers at a local pool.

Thorpe, a five-times Olympic gold medalist, said: "Adan is someone who went above and beyond the call of duty, he's a hero."
British Swimming chose him for its Big Splash award after the Evening Standard featured his story.

The organisation's chief executive, David Sparkes, said they were keen to recruit Mr Abobaker, a strong swimmer since he was a child, to become a lifeguard or swimming coach. He will receive training to NVQ level and wages. Mr Sparkes said: "He's got the passion and is looking for a job and we're looking for people, so it's a win-win."

Mr Abobaker said: "I've been doing some charity work but every penny I get now goes towards my rent so I'm going to give this opportunity my best shot. I'm feeling good about the future and this has been a beautiful day."

He is in regular contact with the woman who he saved and he said she was feeling much better through the care of friends and family. His story will be featured as part of the Great Salford Swim coverage on BBC 2.

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