Birmingham firefighters on a rescue course in Wales put their training to good use – by saving a female kayaker from dangerous rapids.
The West Midlands Fire Service officers had travelled to take part in the exercise on the fast-flowing water near Llangollen in Denbighshire.
But just as the brigade were about to go and have dinner, a female kayaker with another group fell into the water - and the firemen raced into action, Wales Online reported .
Andy Wagner, Head of Water Rescue, said: “It was dinner time but we decided to carry on for a bit.
“Some of the brigade had already gone in for dinner when a group of kayakers were coming down the rapids and a lady toppled out.
“You could see on her face she was tired.
"She had tried to cling on to the back of a kayak but struggled.
“It’s very fast white water there.
"I threw out a line and the team pulled her in. She was absolutely shattered.
“She bent over and put her hands on her knees – she was really struggling.”
Andy insisted the brigade were not heroes, but just doing what they had trained to do. He said: “We just did our job. Then we just carried on, and went for dinner.
“But it’s good to see that our training does work.
“All that money that West Midland’s Fire Service puts into training and the venue all works – and brings safe outcomes.”
