|
Source (with video) - also featured on BBC Look North and ITV Calendar Emergency services staged a rescue at the River Aire in Leeds today after about 31 incidents in five years. The stretch of the river through the city centre has been responsible for more rescues than any other body of water in West Yorkshire. Firefighters led a training exercise using boats and ropes to rescue a man floundering in the water behind Asda house. Police and street angels were also on hand to assist. Leeds district fire commander Russ Hepton said: “It’s not a controlled environment. If someone gets in there in deep water, potentially they could be in trouble. “Half of incidents are over the weekend period, which is a concern to me because it suggests people are out enjoying themselves, possibly taking a bit of alcohol and the river, for whatever reason, looks more attractive. “My clear message is don’t ever entertain getting in the water. If you do it might be the very last thing you do.” West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service has been called to 107 water rescues across the county since 2010, nine of which resulted in fatalities. There were 47 incidents across Leeds, including five deaths. Two of those were in the Aire. The exercise was held to coincide with the Chief Fire Officers Association (CFOA) national Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Week.   Source
West Yorkshire 'Street Angels' are looking for more recruits to provide care and assistance to vulnerable locals. More volunteers are needed to help keep people on nights out in West Yorkshire safe. That's the calls from charity 'Street Angels' who have patrols in several places, including Leeds, Halifax and Bradford to help protect vulnerable people. If someone has drunk too much the Angels offer them water, if someone takes their shoes off as they’re hurting the Angels give them flip-flops, and if someone has become separated from their friends or is upset the Angels will provide emotional help and support and make sure they are not left alone. Teams are out Friday and some Saturdays from 10pm - 3am. They wear bright yellow jackets labelled Street Angel to make themselves known to the public, and work alongside other agencies to provide practical care, listening ears and look out for people. Volunteer Katie Waters says “On patrol we look out for people that are vulnerable, and often walk about 3 miles a night to keep an eye on various areas, so we ask that any volunteers are reasonably fit and healthy- but apart from that anyone can apply!” “Over the course of an hour or a few hours you see someone be helped by what you’re doing and manage to get home or be reunited with their friends. It’s really rewarding, it’s things like that that make you want to keep doing it.” |
News & StoriesKeep up to date with the latest news and stories from the life of Street Angels Leeds... Archives
May 2016
Categories |
RSS Feed
