A mum is searching for a stranger who saved her children's lives after the pushchair they were strapped into rolled into a lake, leaving them submerged under water.

Stacey Pallister had been enjoying a sunny afternoon at Fairlands Valley Park in Stevenage with her three children when the horror unfolded.

"We had been to feed the ducks, and my four-year-old son was eating an ice-cream we had bought from the café," Stacey explained. "We were walking along the path, with the water to our right.

"My son was behind me and I turned to help him with the ice-cream, putting my hand forward to get wipes out of the buggy, but the buggy was no longer there.

"It had fallen into the water face down, with my my 20-month-old twins strapped into it, and my dachshund attached. 

"It happened in seconds, and was such a shock.

The Comet: Stacey Pallister was with her three children and dachshund when the horror unfolded.Stacey Pallister was with her three children and dachshund when the horror unfolded. (Image: Courtesy of Stacey Pallister)

"I jumped into the water and tried to flip the buggy upright and drag it out, but I didn't realise how deep it was. I couldn't stand up in it and I was trying to stay afloat and flip the buggy.

"With all my strength, I couldn't do it on my own, so I started shouting for help.

"A kind man jumped into the water and helped drag it out, with the lady he was with helping too. 

"A man fishing with his grandson held out a landing net and told me to grab it.

"Without the help of the man who jumped into the water, I wouldn't have been able to get them out.

"The twins were crying and cold, and the whole time my son had been calling to me from the edge.  

"I dried and changed the twins and took them to hospital to be checked over, but they were absolutely fine."

The dachshund was also unharmed.

Stacey said "there was a lot involvement" from strangers, who she is keen to thank for their help. 

"I've managed to thank most of them, but not the man who jumped into the water. My main reason for contacting the newspaper is to thank this person."

If you are this man, please email louise.mcevoy@newsquest.co.uk.