Fire-Fighters Rescue Colleague In Water Drama

By Cara Sulieman

A FIRE operation to put out a massive blaze took a dramatic twist when firefighters had to rescue one of their own colleague who had fallen into a deep pool of water.

The 41-year-old was helping to fight flames at a landfill site in Fauldhouse, West Lothian when he stood on what he thought was solid ground.

But it turned out to be a two metre deep pool of water and his fellow firefighters had to haul him out before he was then taken to St John’s Hopsital in Livingston to be treated for hypothermia.

Fire crews got the call to attend the blaze at Levenseat Waste management site on the A706 at 9.30pm on Tuesday night.

A large pile of wood and compost materials was on fire and it was during the operation that the firefighter fell into the pond just before 10pm.

Fire chiefs say an accident investigation will be carried out to find out exactly what happened.

It comes just a month after another investigation was launched when a Lothian and Borders firefighter almost drowned during a training exercise on the River Tweed.

It is understood that after being rescued he had to be stripped of his protective clothing by his crew as they were worried what was in the water.

He was also given medication at hospital because he had swallowed some of the water.

After being treated, he was released at around 2.30am and is recovering at his home.

A spokeswoman for Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews were engaged in fighting the fire at Fauldhouse throughout the night in challenging conditions.

“We are reassured that our colleague is recovering well at home.”

Last month a 43-year-old firefighter from Edinburgh was rushed to hospital after a training exercise on the River Tweed went wrong and he disappeared under the water.

Colleagues pulled him from the water and resuscitated him on the river bank.

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