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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Estel Farell Roig

Firefighters rescue person 'in difficulty in the water' at Bristol Harbour

A person had to be rescued from the Cumberland Basin by fire crews.

Firefighters from Temple, Bedminster, Bath and Southmead were called to reports of a person in difficulty in the water at 4.19pm on Thursday (April 21). On arrival, crews found one person in the water, requiring rescue.

Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: "With a roof ladder and throw lines in use, crews were able to rescue the person. Police and ambulance colleagues were also in attendance."

Read more: Man 'lucky to be alive' after he was found clinging to pontoon at 5am in Bristol harbour

The rescue came the day after the fire service issued a stark warning after multiple people were rescued from Bristol's harbour over the Easter weekend. Over the four-day period, four people needed assistance, one of whom was drunk.

According to the fire service, almost half the number of people who end up in difficulty did not intend to enter the water. From June 2019 to June 2021, the fire service was called to over 70 incidents involving water in Bristol, and 26 of them caused serious injury or death.

A spokesperson for the service said: "Even on a warm day, the temperature in open water can remain very cold, causing a physical reaction which can make it difficult to control breathing. This can cause panic and make it difficult to swim.

"If you do find yourself in difficulty in the water, don’t panic, fight your instinct to thrash around, lean back in the water and float on your back until the effects of cold-water shock pass. Then you can call for help or swim to safety.

"If someone is in trouble in water, call 999. At the coast ask for the coastguard. If you are inland, ask for the fire service. You should never enter the water to attempt a rescue."

Swimming in any part of Bristol Harbour is banned unless the Harbour Master has given consent, according to the Bristol City Council website. Last year, wild swimmers who want to be allowed to swim around in the Cumberland Basin staged several protest dips.

The campaigners also revealed what a Copenhagen-style Bristol Lido facility might look like, hiring architects who specialise in creating outdoor swimming facilities to come up with a vision for a lido. For more water safety advice, you can visit the AF&RS website.

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