Whilst playing on the bank of the old River Tees a Boy, aged 9 years, fell into the water and soon drifted to the centre. Addison immediately plunged into the water, fully clothed, only to find himself enmeshed in barbed wire, which had been erected below high-water level, apparently to prevent entry into the deeper water. Forcing his way through at the cost of severe laceration, Addison reached the drowning Boy and succeeded in getting him back through the wire to the bank, suffering further injury in doing so.