Elderly couple rescued from freezing river in Mayfield (From The Argus)

Elderly couple rescued from freezing river in Mayfield

11:33am Sunday 21st October 2012 in News

An elderly man somersaulted into a freezing river after a railing he was leaning against broke.

He was joined in the river, off Withrenden Road, Mayfield, by his wife.

They had to be rescued by firefighters using equipment normally used to rescue animals.

An East Sussex Fire and Rescue statement said: “The pair were enjoying an autumn walk along the embankment when they leaned against a protective wooden railing which gave way and they both fell into the stream.

“The man was able to pull his wife to safety and made an emergency 999 call.

“However, upon arrival paramedics were unable to transfer the woman to the ambulance and called in the services of firefighters.

“Paramedics stabilised her until crews from Uckfield and Crowborough arrived at the scene.”

Incident commander Matt Elder said: “The couple were extremely shaken, having suffered injuries in the fall, and the woman was taken off to hospital. The husband was also in shock after experiencing a full somersault whilst falling. It must have been a real shock for the pair when they fell into the freezing cold river, which extends 8ft across and around 10in deep.”

The incident took place on the morning of October 12.