of a dramatic rescue yesterday.

Jayde Curtis fell off the edge of Somers Wharf into rough seas shortly after 3 p.m.

The alarm was raised by Mr. Eric Peterson, a gas attendant at the nearby Dowling's Garage Marine & Auto Service.

He told his assistant manager Mr. George Dowling Jr., who immediately rushed to the scene and dived off the dock.

"I saw the little boy 15 or 20ft out. His head kept going up and down in the water,'' Mr. Dowling Jr. told The Royal Gazette .

"The conditions were very rough, and the boy would have drowned within minutes.

"I swam out to him, and managed to get his head above the surface.'' The youngster was then brought up to the dock with the help of a rope, watched by his mother, Mrs. Maxayn Curtis, from St. George's.

"He seemed to be alright, and I don't think he was taken to hospital,'' said Mr. Dowling Jr.

"His mother who had been with him was obviously extremely grateful.'' Police were called to the scene, but the boy was already out of the water when officers arrived.

Mr. Dowling Jr. was praised by Police spokeswoman Insp. Roseanda Jones.

"He saved the little boy's life,'' she said.