Firefighters from Langholm, Annan, Dumfries and Gala required as water rescue not straightforward
A dramatic rescue took place on the River Esk in Langholm on Saturday afternoon when a young woman was recovered from the river after being swept downstream by the current.
The woman had been walking her dog at the Kilngreen when the dog got into trouble in the water at the confluence of the Ewes and the Esk. She went in to retrieve the dog but was caught up in the notorious current and carried down the river.
She managed to scramble onto rocks just through the east side arch of the bridge where she had to perch, precariously, for some time before she was rescued.
The alarm was raised and the emergency services contacted, with the Langholm Fire Service and ambulance crew attending very quickly.
However, with strict health and safety regulations imposed by Scottish Fire & Rescue Services, the frustrated Langholm crew were unable to effect a suitable rescue of the woman.
Because the incident was water based, specialist Water Rescue Units had to be called which have all the correct equipment to effect such a rescue. These Units came from Galashiels and Dumfries.
A Scottish Fire & Rescue Service spokesperson said, “We were alerted at 4.28pm on Saturday, October 19 by reports that a person had
entered the water in the River Esk, beneath the Langholm Bridge.
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