Right place, right time - Off-duty Northfield fire crew en-route to rescue competition help free driver trapped in motorway crash - The Bromsgrove Standard

Right place, right time - Off-duty Northfield fire crew en-route to rescue competition help free driver trapped in motorway crash

Bromsgrove Editorial 29th Sep, 2021 Updated: 29th Sep, 2021   0

A CREW of off-duty firefighters who were en-route to a national competition in Tyneside to showcase their extrication skills put them to the test in a real life situation when they ended up first at the scene of a motorway crash.

The Northfield-based crew were travelling to the two-day ‘Festival of Rescue’ hosted by Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service (TWFRS) on Thursday.

As they arrived on Newcastle’s Central Motorway just after 5pm they saw a vehicle had crashed and the driver was trapped inside.

With other crews on the way, the highly-trained firefighters rushed to the vehicle, put a cordon in place and helped co-ordinate the emergency services response.




The motorist was taken to hospital with serious leg injuries but the response of the off-duty crew ensured he was attended to as quickly as possible.

The West Midland Fire Service extrication team was made up of Anthony Busst, Andrew Connolly, Rhys Suban, Lee Renenhan and Andrew Butler.


Mr Busst, Northfield Fire Station Crew Commander, said: “When we saw the collision we knew we had the training to be able to assist local emergency services so didn’t hesitate to stop.

“We were first on the scene and our priority was making the area safe and offering reassurance to the occupant of the vehicle.

“Our thoughts are with them as they continue to recover from their injuries and we are just glad we were able to do something to help.”

Senior fire officers have praised the efforts of the team and said it showed the ‘collaborative spirit’ of the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation (UKRO) event.

Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther said: “We were incredibly proud to host the Festival of Rescue which really show-cased the region, and the skill of fire and rescue services from across the country.

“The response to this incident shows just how determined members of the fire family are to keep our communities safe and that was what this festival was all about.

“I want to personally thank our West Midlands colleagues for providing a safe working space for our crews.”

Chief Fire Officer for West Midlands Fire Service, Phil Loach, said: “I am extremely proud of our firefighters from Northfield who responded assertively, effectively and safely during this incident, to help the occupant of the vehicle.

“In this instance, our firefighters were in the right place at the right time and acted instinctively. I commend them on their proactivity whilst away from the West Midlands.

“The crews’ cooperation with local emergency services proved valuable.

“I’m pleased we were able to offer our assistance, and would like to take this opportunity on behalf of the West Midlands Fire service to wish the occupant of the vehicle, a safe and full recovery.”

The UKRO ‘Festival of Rescue’ was a two day event on Newcastle and Gateshead Quaysides that held five different challenges -Rope Rescue, Water Rescue, Trauma Care, Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) and Extrication.

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