Footage Of Real Life Rescue From River Aire Highlights Dangers Of Open Water

West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service (WYFRS) is releasing dramatic footage of a recent water rescue, which was caught on camera by Leeds City Council CCTV operatives.

The release of the footage follows on from a recent spate of water related tragedies nationally.
The rescue from the River Aire happened in the early morning of May 21st in The Calls area of Leeds.
A man plunges into the water and is then seen to struggle to keep afloat as he grasps at vegetation along
the river bank walls.
Cold water shock quickly sets in and saps the man’s energy and it is soon clear that he is losing his battle
for survival as he starts to dip below the surface, dropping in and out of consciousness.
Fortunately, the CCTV operatives spotted the casualty in distress and immediately raised the alarm with
the emergency services, pinpointing the exact location of the rescue.
Firefighters from Leeds Fire Station Blue Watch, who are trained in swift water rescue, were nearby at the
time and were on the scene in a matter of minutes followed by colleagues from West Yorkshire Police.

When the fire crew arrived on the bankside it was very apparent that an urgent rescue was required in
order to save the man and so a firefighter immediately entered the water at the point the casualty had last
been seen.
The firefighter was attached to a second crew member on the bank by a safety line.
The firefighter could not, at first, locate the man, as he had now disappeared under the water. On the
second attempt he managed to locate the casualty after diving down.
Once he grabbed the casualty he pulled him to a nearby pontoon where, assisted by another firefighter
and a PC, they were able to rescue the casualty from the water.
At this point the man who had been in the water was unconscious and not breathing. The rescuers carried
out immediate first aid and revived him. He was then taken to hospital in an ambulance, suffering from
hypothermia.
Fortunately he survived his ordeal.

Ian Bitcon, WYFRS Area Manager for Fire Safety, said: “This truly was a heroic rescue by firefighters,
supported by police and the CCTV operatives who also played a crucial role.
“The casualty in this rescue was incredibly lucky and this footage shows just how quickly people can get
into real difficulty in cold water.
“Some of our firefighters are trained in swift water rescue and attend numerous rescues similar to this one
each year, although sadly not everyone is as lucky as this man.
“It is fortunate that a crew trained in water rescue happened to be in the vicinity at the time which saved
crucial minutes.
“With the River Aire running through the busy centre of Leeds, it is a hotspot area for water rescues and
we hope this shocking footage will make people think twice before they enter the water, especially now
that we are in the summer months.”

Superintendent Lisa Atkinson, Head of Neighbourhood Operations for West Yorkshire Police, said:
"People who are out and about enjoying themselves in the warmer months often see the water as a place
to cool down or play in.
"But these waterways are not like swimming pools. There are no lifeguards on hand in case someone
gets into difficulty and there are often hidden currents which can catch out even an experienced swimmer.
"The temperature of the water is another factor people rarely consider. It can be a shock to people and in
most reservoirs the temperature is very cold. People suddenly entering cold water are susceptible to
hyperventilation; this could result in the body going into seizure and a person drowning as a result.
"We are asking people to stay safe and stay out of the water."
Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council executive board member with responsibility for Safer Leeds
said: “This is a fantastic example of where our officers have acted quickly and worked closely with
emergency services in the city to help save this individual.
“Without the quick thinking of officers and pinpointing of the location, the ending to this rescue could have
been very different.
“Water safety is extremely important and the dangers are not always clear. Although we do have CCTV
covering areas around the river and canal across the city, people should exercise caution around water in
any location.”