Posted: Wednesday 22 February 2023, 10:13
Last week Derbyshire’s Deputy Chief Fire Officer (DCFO) presented a member of the public with a commendation for brave actions that likely saved the life of a young boy.
On Tuesday 16 August 2022, Jeremy West was walking his dog when he saw two young boys in difficulty above the Monsal Trail, near Millers Dale car park.
The boys, aged 10 and 11, from Cornwall, had climbed over 30 metres and became trapped on top of a tunnel following a change in the weather conditions.
Without hesitation, Jeremy climbed to reach the boy who was in the most danger and held onto him until fire crews arrived.
Presenting the award, DCFO Rob Taylor said: “Jeremy demonstrated selfless bravery by scaling the tunnel to reach the boys and safely secure one from the large drop below.
“He risked his own life and in doing so became trapped, although was thankfully unharmed and brought to safety alongside the children.”
Whilst recognising Jeremy’s quick thinking and courage in climbing the tunnel, Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service would urge people to carefully consider the implications of attempting to rescue others, where this puts you at risk of danger or harm.
If you find someone in difficulty and it is not safe to attempt to rescue them, call 999 immediately and let our specially trained firefighters and control operators respond.
The Service would also like to remind everyone of our top tips for ensuring your countryside adventure is a safe and enjoyable one.
Download the what3words app before visiting a remote location like the Monsal Trail. This allows emergency service call handlers to locate you in an emergency and could save precious time.
Follow the countryside code. This is your guide to enjoying our parks, waterways, coast and countryside and includes a range of safety tips such as checking the weather forecast before you set off as conditions can quickly change.