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Elderly man rescues mother, son

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NORTH BERWICK, Scotland, July 31 (UPI) -- A woman and her 7-year-old son close to drowning at a Scottish beach were rescued by an elderly man who happened by and swam out into the surf to save them.

The Scotsman reported Monday the boy was dragged under by a large wave while swimming at North Berwick and his mother also found herself struggling in the strong tide when she tried to retrieve him. But the unnamed passer-by, identified only as an "elderly gentleman" from Broxbum, saved the day by swimming out and pulling them to safety before official rescue squads arrived.

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"Due to the efforts of the rescue teams and the bravery of the member of the public who recovered them, both woman and child were rescued from the water and are currently being treated in hospital," said Bob Abercrombie of the Forth Coast Guard.

The mother and child, who are from Dunblane, were flown by helicopter to a hospital. The boy was treated for shock and was released, while the woman was hospitalized overnight for water ingestion, the newspaper said.

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