Volunteer who saved woman ‘had to be rescued’
Herald
Chris Watt
28 Apr 2010
A veteran lifeboat officer from the Glasgow Humane Society who helped pull a drowning woman from the River Clyde had to be rescued himself, Strathclyde Fire and Rescue has claimed.
Volunteer George Parsonage was credited by onlookers with the dramatic rescue of a woman who got into trouble on the river.
He accused firefighters of trying to have him arrested when he intervened during the official rescue effort – a claim that has been supported by witnesses.
Now, however, the fire service has issued its own version of Monday night’s events, in which it accuses Mr Parsonage of getting into “difficulties” himself.
While the volunteer lifeguard, 66, said he had been forced to intervene to save the woman’s life when she fell in the Clyde near Glasgow Green, a statement from the fire service painted a different picture.
A spokesman said that after firefighters arrived on the scene “it was quickly established that the woman was not in distress and did not wish to be assisted”.
Rescue lines were thrown repeatedly to the woman, believed to be in her 20s, but she made no attempt to grab them. Mr Parsonage then entered the water.
“Mr Parsonage experienced difficulties getting back on to the shore. At one point Mr Parsonage was not connected to the shore by his line and he and the woman had to be assisted out of the river and on to the bank by firefighters.”
Responding to the fire service statement, Mr Parsonage said: “Even though you know you can perfectly well swim back to the side, if someone throws a rope to you, it would be very stupid not to take it. Not only did it save me my exertion, it got the woman back to the side quicker.
“But there is no question of me not being able to get to the side with my own velocity.”