A new specialist rescue boat was used by Cumbrian firefighters at the weekend to rescue three fishermen who found themselves stranded on a popular fishing lake near Brampton .
Crews from Brampton and Carlisle were called to Jubilee Pond on Friday night after passers-by reported that the fisherman's boat had capsized.
Some of them had managed to make their way to the shore, but three of the party were left trapped on a small island.
Upon reaching the scene, firefighters quickly donned specially designed dry-suits and deployed the rescue boat which was quickly put to work ferrying the stranded trio back to dry land.
Speaking after the incident, Cumbria's Assistant Chief Fire Officer Dave Keevil, said: "The three fishermen were very cold, frightened and wet. Fortunately, the new rescue boat can be inflated with compressed air and deployed in the water within minutes so it wasn't before firfighters were able to bring them safely back to shore.
"The new rescue boat and the firefighters who have undergone intensive training in its use certainly proved their mettle in this emergency."
In addition to the Carlisle rescue boat used in this incident, Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service has three more boats located at Barrow, Kendal and Workington.
Each craft is powered by a 20hp Honda outboard engine and to crew them safely, firefighters have been trained to Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Level 2 in Powerboat Handling. Training has also been provided to enable firefighters to carry out rescues in fast moving water.
The boats, which can carry a crew of four firefighters, are produced by Avon who also supply the military and other Fire and Rescue Services.
ENDS
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