An ordinary walk turned into a life-saving mission when a pensioner from Newham leapt into the River Thames to rescue a seven-year-old girl from drowning.
Hismet Smakaj, 65, was hailed as a hero after he dove into the turbulent waters near Thames Barrier Park in East London on Saturday, 17 May, acting on pure instinct when he saw the child jump into the river.
He and his wife had just finished a shopping trip and were strolling through the park when the chilling moment unfolded. The girl had been perched on a metal railing overlooking the water. As they passed, she suddenly jumped in.
Without a second thought, Hismet stripped off his tracksuit and jumped in after her.
Speaking to Metro, his son Euklid Smakaj, 36, a security officer from Essex, recounted the moment his father sprang into action.
“As they were walking through the park, my dad saw this little girl climbing the fence before sitting on it and looking at the river… She was drowning. My dad didn’t even think, he took his tracksuit off and jumped in.”
Hismet swam out nearly five metres, locating the girl only by the sight of her hair beneath the surface. Fighting strong currents, he dragged her back to the river wall and clung to a piece of metal jutting from the structure, refusing to let go.
“His hands were all cut up but he held the girl there,” Euklid added.
The girl reportedly screamed for him to let her go. His wife cried out for help, fearing she’d lost both the girl and her husband to the river.
A crowd quickly formed as the situation unfolded around 5.30pm. Onlookers attempted to lower a life ring, but the rope snapped. Eventually, several bystanders assisted the pair in climbing out at a nearby staircase.
Emergency services rushed to the scene. London Ambulance Service confirmed: “We were called at 5.21pm… We treated a child and took her to a major trauma centre as a priority. We also checked over a second patient but discharged them at the scene.”
The child, later identified as autistic, was safely treated by paramedics. Around 200 people had gathered. Cheers broke out. Applause echoed along the riverside. One man, believed to be the girl’s father, shook Hismet’s hand and thanked him personally.
“He just reacted on instinct at a dangerous place in the river where there are strong currents, thinking nothing of his own safety. He really didn’t care even if he died saving the girl,” said Euklid.
Hismet, originally from Albania, is no stranger to such acts of bravery. Years ago, he reportedly saved two soldiers from drowning back home. He’s a strong swimmer, but the River Thames is no place for the faint-hearted. Its tides, undercurrents, and pollution make it treacherous.
“I have got children and grandchildren, so the moment I saw the girl, I knew I had to act. I was prepared to do whatever it took to get her out of the water,” Hismet said.
The London Fire Brigade also confirmed its response, dispatching three fire engines and two rescue units to support the operation.
What began as an ordinary afternoon became a moment of extraordinary courage. In a world that often celebrates celebrity over substance, Hismet Smakaj’s instinctive leap into danger serves as a powerful reminder—heroes walk among us.
