Ferris wheel hero: ‘Be the change’

Akil De Vignes -

SUPERMAN might be the hottest movie in theatres this summer, but it was a man from Cocorite, not Krypton, who was the real hero at MovieTowne Carousel Park, Port of Spain, on July 20 after saving a child from falling to his death from a Ferris wheel.

After risking his own life for a complete stranger, the man is appealing for people to be the change they desperately want to see in the country.

Videos of the incident on social media showed Akil De Vignes, a 33-year-old electrician and fitness enthusiast of Cocorite, carefully but determinedly scaling to the top of the stopped Ferris wheel some 60 feet into the air to secure a four-year-old boy holding on to the outside of one of the canopies. After reaching the child, De Vignes placed him into the carriage and entered with him to the cheers of onlookers.

Having gone viral for his heroic act, De Vignes wants to use the attention to appeal to people to be selfless just like him.

“It have people that could have watched that child and be like’I can’t get up there and whatever happen it happen.’

"For me, my message is wherever you could extend your love, your strength, your goodness; just be that person.

"They does say be the change you want to see, and we does just say it and rattle it off we tongue, but you have to practice that. And if you really want to see a change in our society, we really have to actually exemplify that by how we live our lives by what we do.”

De Vignes believes it was destiny that saved the child’s life as he told Newsday he wasn’t even supposed to be at MovieTowne that day. He said he changed plans at the last minute to take his daughters, aged five and ten, for their first Ferris wheel ride. Nearing the end of their ride, he said it quickly became apparent something was wrong.

MovieTowne Carousel Park's Ferris wheel. - File photo by Faith Ayoung

“Coming back down, we realised there was some kind of panic. A lot of people start to panic, and a lot of people start to run and stuff.”

He said once at the bottom, he took his daughters out and saw the incident unfolding.

“Everybody was watching to see what was going on, people asking for help, people screaming, his mother was saying ‘My child! My child! My child!’ and you hearing the child screaming from on top there.”

De Vignes assessed the situation and, after internalising the piercing screams of the terrified child, decided something had to be done.

“Hearing the child was taking a toll on me. I think as a father, I have two young daughters, I have that protective instinct you go have the inclination to just be brave and courageous in any situation.”

De Vignes told his daughters to wait for him and sprang into action. He declined offers for a harness which he believed would only slow him down and instead relied on his years of training at the gym, hiking, running and scaling ladders and scaffolding for work to guide him.

“It just keep in my mind ‘You know Akil, you go get this boy, you go get this boy.’”

“It wasn’t an easy climb...it was a little strenuous because I had to stretch a lot and pull up myself through the steel and that kind of stuff.”

As he drew nearer to the child, De Vignes said he offered words of comfort, saying: “Just hold on. I coming for you. Just hold on. Don’t let go.”

He described the moment he grabbed the child and the ensuing cheers and applause for him as “surreal.”

He believes it was his destiny to be at MovieTowne that day to save the child’s life and that he would willingly do the same if a similar opportunity presented itself.

“As a father with two daughters – you know daughters is children you have to be overprotective with, you have to be careful with, be there to protect them...

"If it was my daughters in any other situation, it’s just to act immediately.”

His efforts have gone viral on social media with many users calling him a hero and saying he should receive a national award for his bravery. He said he was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and, when asked, said he would welcome the award if it is offered to him.

While De Vignes agrees with criticisms online that the child’s mother should shoulder some blame for the incident, he did not believe she was 100 per cent culpable.

“I don’t want to fully blame the mother because things could happen, but there is room for improvement. Children that age, you really have to be observant and protective and careful.”

He extended that advice to all parents.

The boy’s mother, Melissa Thomas of Beetham Gardens, expressed her deepest appreciation to De Vignes, the police, Fire Service and MovieTowne staff for the roles they played in saving her son’s life.

She told Newsday she had placed her two other children inside one of the canopies and when she turned around, she saw the four-year-old holding on to the other one, already lifting off the ground.

“All I tell my son is to ‘Hold on, I right here’ and I start to bawl out help and it have people assist me.”

CCTV footage showed attendants trying unsuccessfully to grab the child as he continued to rise up in the air on the canopy. Staff were seen running as if to get help.

A statement from MovieTowne’s parent company, MultiCinemas (Trinidad) Ltd, commended De Vignes for his selflessness.

“His bravery and quick action played a key role in ensuring that the child was not harmed, and we are sincerely thankful for his selfless response. We are grateful that the situation ended safely and the child was unharmed.”

The company said while safety was the highest priority at MovieTowne and its team acted swiftly, the incident was a reminder that situations could unfold in a matter of seconds when caring for young children and urged caregivers to be vigilant.

“As families enjoy outings during the July and August vacation, we gently remind all parents and guardians to keep a close eye on their children, especially near rides and attractions. We also encourage everyone in the community to remain alert and support each other in helping to keep our spaces safe and family-friendly.”

The company said it continued to review the incident and remained committed to maintaining a secure and enjoyable environment for all guests. It thanked the public for their understanding, support and continued trust.