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River Arrow rescue: Two children 'lucky to be alive' | River Arrow rescue: Two children 'lucky to be alive' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two children have been rescued from the River Arrow near Redditch in Worcestershire. | Two children have been rescued from the River Arrow near Redditch in Worcestershire. |
West Mercia Police said a six-year-old girl had been flown to Birmingham Children's Hospital, while her 11-year-old brother was at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. | West Mercia Police said a six-year-old girl had been flown to Birmingham Children's Hospital, while her 11-year-old brother was at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch. |
The pair got into difficulty at about 12:30 BST and were pulled out by a man and a woman passing by. | The pair got into difficulty at about 12:30 BST and were pulled out by a man and a woman passing by. |
Insp Ian Joseph said the children were "lucky to be alive". | Insp Ian Joseph said the children were "lucky to be alive". |
'Extremely ill' | |
After reading a statement from one of the people who intervened at the scene, off Dolphin Road, Redditch, he said: "It would appear that a tragedy has really only just been averted. | After reading a statement from one of the people who intervened at the scene, off Dolphin Road, Redditch, he said: "It would appear that a tragedy has really only just been averted. |
"Certainly the circumstances that were described were horrific. | "Certainly the circumstances that were described were horrific. |
"I think a few minutes more without the assistance of the three people who got involved and we would've been talking about a double tragedy." | "I think a few minutes more without the assistance of the three people who got involved and we would've been talking about a double tragedy." |
Janie Greville, who helped rescue the children, said she and her partner were walking their dog by the river when they were alerted by some teenagers. | |
She said one of the children in the water looked "extremely ill". | |
"I jumped in and swam to the children... my partner took the six year old first and a guy who was fishing worked on [her} to empty her lungs," she told BBC Midlands Today. | |
'Deadly hazard' | 'Deadly hazard' |
Both children are believed to be in a stable condition, police said. | Both children are believed to be in a stable condition, police said. |
The West Midlands Ambulance Service said the six-year-old girl had "a reduced level of consciousness" when they arrived. Both were also suffering from hypothermia. | The West Midlands Ambulance Service said the six-year-old girl had "a reduced level of consciousness" when they arrived. Both were also suffering from hypothermia. |
"Crews provided emergency medical treatment at the scene before airlifting the girl to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where on arrival, she was conscious and talking to paramedics," a spokesperson said. | "Crews provided emergency medical treatment at the scene before airlifting the girl to Birmingham Children's Hospital, where on arrival, she was conscious and talking to paramedics," a spokesperson said. |
Mr Joseph added: "This division has seen its fair share of tragedies around open water with incidents at Gullet Quarry and other places. | Mr Joseph added: "This division has seen its fair share of tragedies around open water with incidents at Gullet Quarry and other places. |
"Despite all the warnings going out we are still having incidents of this kind." | "Despite all the warnings going out we are still having incidents of this kind." |
He said the dangers of open water swimming were "a national issue". | He said the dangers of open water swimming were "a national issue". |
"It matters not what the skills or abilities of the children are - they could be the best swimmers in the world - but the circumstances of the water they are entering they can't possibly predict," he said. | "It matters not what the skills or abilities of the children are - they could be the best swimmers in the world - but the circumstances of the water they are entering they can't possibly predict," he said. |
"The effect of cold water or obstruction under the surface can be a deadly hazard." | "The effect of cold water or obstruction under the surface can be a deadly hazard." |