With films like Olympus Has Fallen or Plane, Gerard Butler has made a series of action films in which normal people rise above themselves to become real heroes. His very real heroic act might have inspired him to do it. Because Butler himself saved a boy from drowning.
Gerard Butler became a hero on the set of his first film role
During an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers last year, the host asked about the story of the then-13-year-old boy Butler saved. The actor said that at that time he was in a hotel with his mother near the River Tay in Scotland went on vacation. He had filmed his first film, Her Majesty Mrs. Brown, near the river and wanted to visit the place again. That summer day they were just lying there when the actor suddenly heard a scream.
There’s this boy in the middle of the river and he disappears under water and then he shows up again and looks dead to me. And all I could think was ‘I wish I had a more sound sleep.’
But Butler had the courage and jumped into the river. What followed was, in the actor’s words “probably the worst rescue attempt“.
So I swim out and grab him, but I don’t go back, I just hold his head under the water. His eyes were wide open and we brought him back.
You can watch Gerard Butler’s story here:
https://x.com/LateNightSeth/status/1613645745223081991?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1613645745223081991%7Ctwgr%5E1a1461bb67299a49f8760 a1dc9bc7e4bd2605957%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.glasgowtimes.co.uk% 2Fnews%2Fscottish-news%2F23251075.actor-gerard-butler-reveals-saved-drowning-teenager-river-tay%2F
Fortunately, the boy was saved. For this heroic act, Butler was even rewarded by the British Humane Society with an award for bravery honored. He stayed in touch with the boy for years.
The boy has now married. The best man contacted Butler and asked if he would record a video for the bride and groom. A request that the star was only too happy to comply with. The video was shown on the show and can be seen in the video above.