Evening Times - November 02, 2007
Meet the Clyde’s new lifesavers
The River Clyde Water Rescue Service, officially opened by Princess Anne in April this year, covers a 10-mile stretch between the weir at Glasgow Green and Erskine Bridge.
Rescue duties on the Clyde used to be in the hands of George Parsonage, of the Glasgow Humane Society, who patrolled the waters for more than 25 years.
But health and safety rules meant Strathclyde Police had to stop using George's services - and in 2005 it asked the fire service to step in.
John Rae, Group Commander, South Glasgow, said: "George, and his father Ben before him, did a sterling job, but a combination of health and safety requirements on others, and the resources we had available, led to a managerial decision that the response to any rescues on the Clyde should become the responsibility of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.
The 60 firefighters who staff the service are based at three stations, Polmadie, Knightswood and Renfrew, meaning there is always a crew on call.
When an emergency is reported at Polmadie, a three-strong crew rushes from there to Glasgow's Nautical College, where their craft is based, within 90 seconds.
Using a manually operated winch, a support crew lowers the 20ft-long plastic-hulled boat into the water, allowing the crew to speed to the scene at some 30 knots (34.5mph).
The time elapsing between the initial call and the crew gunning the boat into life is five minutes.