A Sunday evening stroll by the Rickmansworth Aquadrome ended in life-or-death drama for a St Albans family.

Greg Barrow and his family were walking along a footpath between Bury and Stockers Lakes on August 30 when they were passed by 71-year-old Chorleywood man Colin Marks, who was cycling with his dog on a lead.

When the St Albans family rounded a corner, they saw Mr Marks had crashed into the lake and was about to go under the water.

While Mr Barrow, 44, and his son Harrison Barrow, 14, jumped into the water to help, the rest of the family raised the alarm and warned other walkers about what had happened.

After helping to pull the pensioner from the lake, Harrison ran to Bury Lake Mariners Centre, where two sailing instructors rushed to the scene.

The family and the sailing instructors have been awarded national honours for their fight to save the cyclist, who died in hospital the following day.

Dick Wilkinson, secretary of the Royal Humane Society, said: “He was just going under the surface when they saw him. Greg and Harrison Barrow jumped in, reached him and manage to stop his head going under.

“They then realised that he had suffered a very serious head injury. When they got him to the bank Greg stayed with him to prevent him from rolling back into the water, helped by Clare Barrow.

"Given that one minute a family was enjoying a stroll by a lake and the next minute they were plunged into a scenario like this there was some incredible team work that evening.

“Sadly the victim of the accident died the following day but undoubtedly they gave him the best possible chance of survival. Everybody involved in this incident richly deserves the awards that have been made to them.”

Mr Barrow and Harrison, of All Stud Cottage, Gorhambury, have been awarded Royal Humane Society Testimonials on Parchment.

Clare Barrow, 42, 11-year-old Genevieve Barrow and Antonia Mason, 19, also from All Stud Cottage, along with sailing instructor David Blakesley, 24, of Forelands Way, Chesham, were awarded the society’s certificates of commendation.

The other sailing instructor, Freddie Crane, 21, of Muirfield Road, South Oxhey, will receive a resuscitation certificate.