Firefighters help rescue three children, trapped in the Hunter River - Denman
Published: 02 Dec 2022 03:58pm
Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters have helped save three children from drowning in the Hunter River today at Denman, in the state's Hunter Valley.
In a multi-agency rescue operation also involving NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, the State Emergency Service and the Rural Fire Service, the FRNSW crew from Denman was alerted that the children were in difficulty in the river, just before midday.
Rescue teams immediately located and secured two of the children, on a log in the river.
The third, a 15-year-old girl, was trapped by her foot in timber debris around 300-metres downstream.
She was pinned underwater, struggling to breathe.
The emergency teams quickly formed an extrication plan and a firefighter entered the river to reach the distressed teen.
The firefighter untangled her from the debris and pulled her up as a second FRNSW rescuer fitted her with a floatation harness.
An SES In-water rescue team was then brought in to carry the children to the safety of the riverbank.
The teenager was then taken to hospital for a medical assessment.
FRNSW Captain Amon Burkill said, "The teen was in imminent danger of drowning, her face was bobbing in and out of the water."
"If not for the quick actions of those firefighters entering the river, I'm in no doubt it would have ended tragically," Captain Burkill said.
Updated: 30 Jan 2023 09:13pm
Details about this incident may change and should not be used as emergency information and/or advice.
For all life threatening emergencies, call Triple Zero (000)
For flood information, warnings or requests for non-life threatening assistance, call the SES on 132 500 or visit the NSW State Emergency Service website here. [external link].
For information directly relating to bushfires please call the Bush Fire Information Line on 1800 679 737 or visit the NSW Rural Fire Service Website here. [external link]
Stations nearby
Rosemount Street, Denman NSW 2328
27-31 Market Street, Muswellbrook NSW 2333
20 Moray St, Aberdeen NSW 2336