Kenyan Nurse in UK Hailed as Hero After Saving Drowning Child in Viral Rescue Video

Country: United Kingdom
Date Published: January 7, 2026

NAIROBI/LONDON – A Kenyan nurse living in the UK has captured global attention after a heart-pounding video of her rescuing a drowning child from a frozen pond went viral on X, amassing over 2.5 million views in less than 48 hours. Posted by eyewitness @LondonMumUK on January 7, the clip shows Mercy Wanjiku, 32, leaping into icy waters in Stanmore, northwest London, to pull the three-year-old boy to safety while bystanders called for help. Kenyan diaspora accounts like @KenyansInUK and influencer @Citizentvkenya quickly amplified the story, dubbing her "Kenya's Angel in the Snow."

Wanjiku, who emigrated from Nairobi three years ago to work as a senior nurse at a local NHS hospital, was out for a jog when she spotted the child who had wandered onto the thin ice while playing nearby. "I didn't think twice—back home in Kenya, we look out for each other," she told reporters in follow-up posts shared by BBC News' X account. The boy's mother, Sarah Jenkins, praised Wanjiku in a tearful thread retweeted thousands of times: "This stranger risked her life for my son. She's a hero." Discussions erupted across X, with users like @DiasporaKenya celebrating her as a symbol of Kenyan resilience abroad, while others highlighted the challenges faced by immigrant healthcare workers in the UK's strained system.

The incident sparked a wave of positive buzz in Kenyan online communities, with verified accounts such as @StandardKenya and @NTVKenya posting threads commending Wanjiku's quick thinking and calling for her recognition. "From matatu streets of Nairobi to saving lives in London—Kenyans abroad making us proud! 🇰🇪❤️," read one viral post from @KenyanAbroadHub, which garnered 15k likes. However, the story also drew mixed reactions, with some users criticizing the lack of immediate safety barriers around the pond and others debating the visibility of Black immigrant heroes in British media.

Local authorities confirmed the child was treated for hypothermia but made a full recovery, and Wanjiku received commendations from the London Fire Brigade. As of January 11, petitions on X were circulating for her to receive the Queen's Gallantry Medal, with over 10k signatures. The story underscores the growing influence of the Kenyan diaspora, often trending under hashtags like #KenyansAbroad and #ProudlyKenyan, blending tales of triumph with everyday heroism amid the rigors of life overseas.