Off-duty firefighter honoured for river rescue

David Bell is a firefighter at South Shields Community Fire Station

An off-duty firefighter has received a courage award for saving a man who had fallen into a river.

David Bell, 51, from South Shields, was flagged down by a woman who had noticed a person fall from a bridge in Northumberland in October 2023.

Mr Bell entered the water and brought the man back to safety, also giving him life-saving first aid.

The man has since recovered from his injuries, while Mr Bell has been hailed as "heroic" for his actions.

The father-of-two was driving past a bridge in Holywell when he was stopped by a passer-by.

Mr Bell immediately began searching for the man in the river and noticed him in the water, some distance from the bank side and in significant distress.

Crossing the muddy bank, he entered the water and brought the man to safety.

He began administering emergency first aid while the woman who had initially flagged him down called 999.

Mr Bell had to use his clothing to wrap and apply pressure to the victim's wounds until paramedics arrived a short time later.

'I was alone'

Mr Bell said “I think any firefighter would have stopped.

"Other people had stopped to help but I have training and experience so I knew I could have helped.

“It was very different from when you are called out to an incident when you are at work.

"Then you are surrounded by a team but this time I was alone."

Mr Bell has been recognised for his actions with a Fire and Rescue Authority Award.

Peter Heath, Chief Fire Officer of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, said: “It’s a testament to the firefighters we have here at Tyne and Wear that even when David was off-duty he knew he could help and stepped in to do so.

“Thankfully the man that David saved that day has made a recovery and I’m sure he would join me in thanking David for his heroic actions that day.”