Friday 1st August 2014 – 1.30pm – Steve Parry.
A woman has been pulled from a Black Country canal after she fell from a boat in the Heath Town area of Wolverhampton earlier this morning.
West Midlands Ambulance Service attended the incident near to lock gates in Crown Street, Wolverhampton at just before 12noon.
An ambulance, a paramedic officer and a community paramedic in rapid response car were sent to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to find a woman in her fifities holding onto a piece of drift wood in the Wyrley and Essington canal after she reportedly slipped from a boat.
“The woman was quickly recovered from the water by the emergency services and a family member. She was treated for a fractured arm and exposure to the cold water.
“The patient was conveyed to New Cross Hospital in Wolverhampton for further assessment and treatment.”
-Ends-
Hello there -I was in the boat immediately behind with my husband Dave Butler ( advanced paramedic Donnington-on holiday ) Dave ran to the ladies/ families aid as soon as it became apprant there was a serious problem. The lady had fallen into the lock at lock 8 on the Wolverhampton 21. We all worked well as a team and prevented a potentially very serious problem. She had been thrown from the boat and landed on the sill between the boat and the lock gate. Having assessed the situation Dave advised the use of a boyancy aid, lowing the lock water and removing the boat manually from the lock for the ladies safety. Her son Mark was admirable and jumped in the cold water to help keep his mum afloat whom had hurt her shoulder when falling in. We worked well as a team removing the boat and then we used a plank of wood from the boat -called a walk plank to position under the lady lifting her out of the water as much as possible. We then as a team stayed with the lady whilst also advising other boaters of the delay and awaited the emergency services. On there arrival Dave liased with the community paramedic giving a full assessment of the situation. We further assisted the paramedic and fire and rescue team in removing the lady from the water. Well done to all the family & my husband Dave Butler