Fire and Rescue NSW (FRNSW) firefighters played a crucial role in rescuing three children from the Hunter River in Denman, located in New South Wales' Hunter Valley.
This coordinated rescue effort also involved NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, the State Emergency Service, and the Rural Fire Service. The alarm was raised shortly before noon, signaling the distress of the young individuals in the river.
Multi-Agency Rescue Effort
Upon arrival, the FRNSW team quickly located two of the children perched on a log in the river
Upon arrival, the FRNSW team quickly located two of the children perched on a log in the river. The situation was more serious for the third child, a 15-year-old girl, who was found approximately 300 meters downstream.
She was trapped underwater by her foot in the timber debris, creating a life-threatening scenario as she struggled to breathe.
Implementing the Extrication Plan
The combined emergency services devised an immediate extrication plan. A firefighter entered the river to release the trapped teenager from the debris, while another firefighter secured her with a flotation harness. Subsequently, an SES in-water rescue team transported the children safely to the riverbank.
The teenager was subsequently transported to the hospital for a medical evaluation. FRNSW Captain Amon Burkill commented on the urgent nature of the rescue, stating, "The teen was in imminent danger of drowning, her face was bobbing in and out of the water."
He further remarked, "If not for the quick actions of those firefighters entering the river, I'm in no doubt it would have ended tragically."
