Four Rugby teenagers have been praised by police after they rescued a boy who had fallen into a reservoir.

The eight-year-old is thought to have slipped in to the water at Reservoir Road.

The youngster had probably been in the water about an hour when four lads from Brownsover estate has came to his aid.

A police spokesman said:

“It could have been a tragedy but it turned out very well thanks to the presence of four boys who have been praised by detectives for their bravery.

“The little boy fell off a bridge and dropped 30 feet into the water, and was lucky not to have been killed in the fall.

“He remained in the water for an hour before he was seen by the boys who were crossing the bridge.”

They injured boy was believed to have been playing with a five year-old. The injured boy, who is not being named by police, was taken by air ambulance to Birmingham Children’s Hospital.

The boys who saved him – all aged 13 – have been named as: Jason Davies of Matlock Close, twins Jason and Craig Scott of Harebell Way and Carl Lewkowicz of Finmere.

One cycled towards Clifton to raise help, one ran off on foot to summon help, and the other two stayed at the water to talk to the boy and try and rescue him.

They threw a coat out to him to keep him warm and kept talking to him to stop him falling into unconsciousness.

One waded out through soft mud and then clambered on to a branch to rescue the boy and pull him to safety.

Police said: