Steve Cross, a whole-time firefighter based at Sleaford, was drafted in with other Lincolnshire water rescue teams to Carlisle over the weekend in an effort to help the victims of the Cumbria floods.
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Mr Ezekiel, chairman of Wessex Flood Rescue, told the Daily Echo: “We sent a type B team, which is a boat team, up at 5.30am on Sunday”.
“The team was released from the incident Monday lunchtime having spent more than 24 hours supporting the rescue operation”.
“A Silver command was established locally at headquarters to control and coordinate our response and on-going support to Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service, including the planning for further requests of support over the next few days”.
Two RNLI teams have been wading through flood waters to help people in Workington. The boat crews from Sleaford and Boston are working through the affected area, checking properties and confirming people and locations. All were taken to safety.
Also in Carlisle yesterday, an 80-year-old woman had to be helped out of a first floor window onto a ledge after five foot of water flooded into her home on Sunday.
Among the hundreds of people evacuated by Welsh RNLI Flood Rescue Team volunteers were children, pensioners, pregnant women and pets – including a Great Dane. It is so sad to see this kind of devastation, especially so close to Christmas’.
According to the RNLI’s Lifesaving Delivery unit, the flood water surrounding the property was fast flowing making it too unsafe to attempt a boat rescue.
RNLI volunteer Chris Missen, who travelled to Cumbria from Porthcawl, has described the conditions as “unprecedented”. We got them all out, and it worked so well that we kept using it for all of our rescues.
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“The team will be assisting for as long as they are required in Cumbria”. “We didn’t hear any grumbling, never saw any tears, and the local community really rallied around to help the emergency services and the victims”.
