This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-30067341
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Portadown: Elderly woman is rescued from sinking car | Portadown: Elderly woman is rescued from sinking car |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Four men have been praised for saving the life of a woman as her car sank in the River Bann in County Armagh. | Four men have been praised for saving the life of a woman as her car sank in the River Bann in County Armagh. |
| Ryan Cummins was passing by a slipway of the river in Portadown on Friday evening when he and others heard the trapped pensioner screaming for help. | Ryan Cummins was passing by a slipway of the river in Portadown on Friday evening when he and others heard the trapped pensioner screaming for help. |
| They waded into the river and pulled her to safety, as her car became fully submerged. Mr Cummins cannot swim. | They waded into the river and pulled her to safety, as her car became fully submerged. Mr Cummins cannot swim. |
| Firefighter Andy Black said the men "acted extremely bravely" and "undoubtedly saved this lady's life". | Firefighter Andy Black said the men "acted extremely bravely" and "undoubtedly saved this lady's life". |
| 'Horrific' | 'Horrific' |
| The woman, who is believed to be in her 70s, received medical treatment at the scene. | The woman, who is believed to be in her 70s, received medical treatment at the scene. |
| Mr Cummins, 25, said: "We arrived and there was a car already half-submerged in the water." | Mr Cummins, 25, said: "We arrived and there was a car already half-submerged in the water." |
| He said he could heard the woman calling for help out of her car window and described hearing her screams as "horrific". | He said he could heard the woman calling for help out of her car window and described hearing her screams as "horrific". |
| "Myself and a couple of others ran up to the main road to try and get help and no-one would stop," Mr Cummin said. | "Myself and a couple of others ran up to the main road to try and get help and no-one would stop," Mr Cummin said. |
| "We ran back down, and at that stage the car was totally submerged, and next minute the woman popped her head up out of the water." | "We ran back down, and at that stage the car was totally submerged, and next minute the woman popped her head up out of the water." |
| Human chain | Human chain |
| He then stripped off and waded into the water to rescue the pensioner. | He then stripped off and waded into the water to rescue the pensioner. |
| His friend, Glen Martin, and other men linked arms, forming a human chain to the river's edge so the fast-moving current would not sweep them all away. | His friend, Glen Martin, and other men linked arms, forming a human chain to the river's edge so the fast-moving current would not sweep them all away. |
| They managed to pull the woman out of the river, just as fire crews and police arrived at the scene. | They managed to pull the woman out of the river, just as fire crews and police arrived at the scene. |
| The elderly woman was said to be shocked and distressed by the incident. | The elderly woman was said to be shocked and distressed by the incident. |
| She was treated by paramedics and was taken from the scene by ambulance for further tests. | She was treated by paramedics and was taken from the scene by ambulance for further tests. |
| It is not known why the car she was driving ended up in the water but there was flooding in parts of Portadown on Friday evening. | |
| 'Danger' | 'Danger' |
| Assistant group commander Andy Black, from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, said the river level was "quite far up the slipway" at the time and the water was moving very fast. | Assistant group commander Andy Black, from the Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service, said the river level was "quite far up the slipway" at the time and the water was moving very fast. |
| "When we first got her out she was very cold and a bit shocked," Mr Black said. | "When we first got her out she was very cold and a bit shocked," Mr Black said. |
| The fire officer paid tribute to the men who rescued her, saying they "did a great job". | The fire officer paid tribute to the men who rescued her, saying they "did a great job". |
| "The members of the public acted extremely bravely by going into this fast-running water and undoubtedly saved this lady's life," Mr Black said. | "The members of the public acted extremely bravely by going into this fast-running water and undoubtedly saved this lady's life," Mr Black said. |
| "They placed themselves in quite a bit of danger." | "They placed themselves in quite a bit of danger." |
| However, Mr Cummins said he did not think of himself as a hero. | However, Mr Cummins said he did not think of himself as a hero. |
| He said he reacted before he thought about what he was doing and claimed anyone else would have done the same in his situation. | He said he reacted before he thought about what he was doing and claimed anyone else would have done the same in his situation. |