Fire service personnel receive commendations for river rescue

A firefighter and control operator who saved the lives of a mother and daughter who were trapped by severe flooding have been awarded Chief Fire Officer’s Commendations.

The mother and her 13-year-old daughter had become trapped when the car they were travelling in entered deep flood water at Sheepwash, Beaworthy, on 11 October 2012.

The car was carried along by the water until it collided with a tree and the only option was for them to climb out through the sun roof and then into the tree when the car started to move.

Fire Control Operator Cheryl Jenkins then spoke to the distressed child for more than 14 minutes,  calming the caller down, giving advice, and obtaining the detailed location information required to enable the responding crews to locate and rescue them.

Firefighter Mike Burden, of Barnstaple Blue Watch, was part of one of the crews that attended. Mike entered the fast flowing water, in darkness, and out of his depth, as a tethered swimmer to secure them in a flotation device. He then stayed with them until they were rescued in a boat.

They both acted in the finest traditions of the fire service.

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