‘Hero’ Sheffield teenager saves the life of an 11-year-old girl in Pakistan

 Image by Newsquest

A Sheffield teenager is reported to have risked his own life to save an 11-year-old girl from drowning during a family day out in Pakistan.

Yahya Ben-Zakar, 19, was enjoying a day out with his uncle and business partners’ family when the incident occurred at the Manthoka waterfall Skardu in Northern Pakistan on 27 July.

Umaiza, the young girl who fell and nearly drowned in the fast-flowing water, was saved by Ben-Zakar’s swift thinking and actions.

Sheffield resident Sahar Ansab, who is the mother of Umaiza said, “The girls, Umaiza and her sister Zahra, were both playing by the water when Zahra lost her footing and fell.

“Umaiza attempted to help her and ended up falling fully into the fast-flowing water.”

The young boy immediately dived into the water to rescue Umaiza by grabbing her at the last second and pulling her to safety.

Speaking of the incident, Ben-Zakar said, “I don’t even remember it; I just saw it happen and I dived in.

“I caught her at the last second, had I been any later, she would have been washed away.

“I told her to grab my hand and I pulled her to the side of the river where my uncle helped us out.

“It was really scary thinking back on it, but at the moment I had so much adrenaline rushing through me.”

While the boy got a hold of Umaiza, Zara also nearly fell in the water but was saved by his uncle, Habib Ullah.

Sahar added: “I was frozen, I saw it happen and I internally started crying.

“I didn’t know what to do, but a part of me thought I had lost my daughters.

“I’m so grateful for Yahya and what God allowed him to do for us that day.

“It could have ended terribly but I’m glad he was there, and he dived in without hesitation.”