We are delighted that Red Watch at Caversham Road Fire Station and a member of our Control staff have been shortlisted as a finalist in the BBC Radio Berkshire Make a Difference Awards.
They have been shortlisted in the Bravery Category, with the winner set to be announced at Reading Town Hall on 3 September.
The crew from Caversham Road was recognised for their efforts in rescuing two people trapped in a vehicle in Land’s End Ford near Twyford on 10 May 2023.
The caller was unsure of his exact location, but a member of our Control staff calmly gathered all the information he could to pass onto attending crews. He gave lifesaving advice and managed to stay on the line reassuring them until the crews arrived at the scene.
When crews arrived in the area, they followed their intuition and attended Land’s End Ford before searching downstream for several hundred meters. They found the vehicle almost fully submerged with two people trapped inside. Both were desperately trying to keep breathing in a small air pocket just a few inches deep.
Two of our firefighters entered the water and managed to force entry to the vehicle, before pulling the occupants to safety. The crew then provided immediate emergency care and assisted the ambulance service, as they were in a very serious medical condition.
Both people survived after a period in hospital thanks to the composure and bravery of firefighters and control staff.
The image above shows the car submerged in water in Land’s End Ford, Twyford.