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3 men rescued from River
Mersey
FIREFIGHTERS were called to the River
Mersey, close to Jericho Lane, on Otterspool, on Thursday, 5 May 2016, following
reports of a person in the water. 2 fire engines, the Search and Rescue Team and
the Marine Fire 1 rescue boat were tasked to the incident.
Prior to the attendance of Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service, an off duty
Merseyside firefighter and a member of the public had entered the river to
assist an unconscious male casualty by keeping him afloat and maintaining an
airway. The man was rescued from the
water by crews from the MF&RS Marine Rescue Unit, who brought him aboard the
Marine Fire One rescue boat and gave him CPR and oxygen. He was taken by boat to
the Marine Rescue Unit at Pier Head and handed in to the care of paramedics,
before being taken to Royal Liverpool University Hospital.
Both men who assisted the casualty were also taken by boat to the Marine Rescue
Unit and assessed at the scene by paramedics. 1 of the men was taken to Royal
Liverpool University Hospital for further checks.
Marine Rescue Unit Team Leader, Iain Holgate, said:- "We were tasked by HM
Coastguard to reports of a person in the water at Jericho Lane area of
Otterspool Promenade. We mobilised quickly and found 3 people in the water; 1
unconscious casualty and 2 members of the public who had jumped in to the water
to assist. 1 of the men was a Merseyside firefighter who was off duty. We
rescued all 3 men on to our lifeboat and made best speed back to the Pier Head
while administering CPR and oxygen to the unconscious casualty. Ambulance
service personnel met us at the Pier Head and took over care of the casualties,
together with Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service appliances and HM Coastguard
mobile teams. The unconscious casualty was transferred to hospital with
ambulance crews and one of the members of the public who assisted was also taken
to hospital for further checks."
Station Manager Franny Hill, who served as incident commander at the scene,
said:- "This was a heroic deed by an off duty firefighter along and a
member of the public who risked their own lives in very cold water to save a
man's life today. It should be noted that all MF&RS operational personnel
receive water training. We would like to remind people of the inherent dangers
of being in or around the water and to stay safe as the warmer weather
approaches." |
