Three of the quick thinking Explorer Scouts went to the aid of the party, one going after the person in the water and the others rescuing the woman from the boat. River levels were reasonably high, about two feet higher than normal and flowing fast following recent rain.
Gavin Scott said, ‘Once I'd assessed the person in the water was OK, I paddled upstream against the strong current towards the lady in the sinking canoe which was pinned against the bridge. Me and James shouted to her to reassure her and told her to jump in the water where we'd catch her, but she was scared and didn't want to, stating that she was pregnant.
‘Eventually, with George's help we managed to get a boat alongside her and she managed to get in so we could take her to the side where she was looked after by Sam and Suzie while we recovered their battered boat.’
All five of the Scouts are experienced paddlers and spend hours learning how to rescue people, but this was the toughest challenge they'd had to face.
Leader Joanne Gregory said, ‘I am really proud of the way the Explorers worked together as a team to manage the situation. They quickly assessed that the other members of the other party didn't have the ability or equipment to manage the situation, and directed them to safety while they managed the rescue, ensured their own safety by assessing the river conditions, and acted quickly for fear that the stranded canoe would buckle under pressure causing injury to the woman.’
Despite the drama, the group completed the expedition covering 51 miles in the three days, and are on course to gain their Duke of Edinburgh Silver Awards and the Chief Scout's Diamond Award.
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By Jim hopkins
on 17/09/2009 19:06 Well done to these Explorers. I don't want to think about what may have happened if they weren't there. Just makes you wonder why on earth they were on the river without supervision. This situation certainly wouldn't occur in Scouting with trained instructors and plenty of supervision.
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By Jeanette Schwarz
on 18/09/2009 11:44 Brilliant to hear a positive and good news story - Well done Explorer Scouts for assisting others in difficulty and demonstrating valuable skills which you've learnt whilst Scouting. Like me, I expect your Section Leaders, past and present, are extremely proud of you too.
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By Christine Hughes
on 18/09/2009 23:12 What a wonderful story and testament to the young people's Scout training - did it make the papers or TV news, I wonder?!
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By Ken Turner
on 19/09/2009 00:24 Very well done. many congratulations on such a courageous rescue.
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By Glenis Duxbury
on 19/09/2009 02:38 This just shows what a value Scouting is to the young.It also proves to the doubters that we do teach things of use in every day life.
Well done Explorers what a good job your leaders have done and what hard work you have put into it as well.
All Scouting should be proud of you i know i feel proud just to be involved even though i am only a Scout campsite warden.
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By Ray Fitz
on 19/09/2009 03:41 This is what its all about guys. All those nights at Scouts and maybe cubs meetings now paying off. Well trained , doing the business when it was really, really needed and in a professional way . Hope you are as proud of yourselves as we older scouters are proud of you. Your actions inspire us old leaders to carry on .
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By Joanna Steer
on 19/09/2009 07:16 Well done Explorer Scouts. People do not understand the dangers in rivers, the training and understanding required to keep safe. But you were prepared! Trained and confident and used your skills well. The SCouting Movement is proud of you.
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By Lynne
on 19/09/2009 07:23 It is so good to hear about the good that youngsters do instead of all the bad.
Well done to you all you should be proud of yourselves
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By Liz Cruikshank
on 19/09/2009 07:47 A happy ending - well done! It does the soul good when you hear of how many years of Scouting eventually DOES become instinctive and intuitive and that it really and truly makes us who we are. Wonder if the people who got into difficulty were Scouts? I bet THEY were glad you were all there that day! You should be very proud of yourselves.
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By Ron Tredwell Sl, DMDM
on 19/09/2009 08:26 Yet again Scouting is shown to be a positive thing for the youth of today. Why can't the national press pickup these positives not the negatives. Explorers well done you have proved yet again that your Scouting will make your life better.
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By David Holland DESA
on 19/09/2009 08:44 very well done, a credit to the movement and their district.
They would be on their own as they were doing a D of E silver expedition - This was a very challenging situation that they came upon and showed that training and regular experience of paddling on rivers extends your confidence to tackle situations like the one they came upon.
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By Lynn Smith
on 19/09/2009 08:52 Many congratulations in puting all you had learnt about rescue into practice. You deserve all your awards.
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By Simon Clarke
on 19/09/2009 08:59 Well done guys, great example of scouting and how well you have been trained. im proud of being a scout and things like this make me prouder.
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By Neil Brookbanks
on 19/09/2009 09:13 A Huge well done.Thinking clearly under pressure is a real skill and it cannot be under estimated how brave these scouts are.You are all true ambasadors for scouts everywhere.
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By Mike Vellacott
on 19/09/2009 12:00 This is a fine example of the standard of training you get in Scouting
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By Craig Smith
on 19/09/2009 12:48 Huge well done to all concerned. This is exactly what Scouting is all about. Young people get so much bad press in the current climate - this type of thing should be front page news!
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By Ralph Hughes
on 19/09/2009 12:53 Well done guys, a credit to Scouting. Why isn't this national headline news?
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By Sue Peart/CATVOG
on 19/09/2009 13:06 Well done to all those explorers who took part in this rescue, it just shows that scouting really teaches young people many skills, and also how to keep a level head in a difficult situation, I hope they get a comendation for this!!
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By Nick Rosen
on 19/09/2009 14:25 Very well done indeed!
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By neil tucker
on 19/09/2009 15:55 they should get a medel for what they've done
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By Erika Kulig
on 19/09/2009 16:14 How fantastic that you did so well. Obviously you spend a lot of time canoing otherwise it wouldn't have ended so well. I for one would have let my son do the same trip. Good on you.
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By Sian Joyce
on 19/09/2009 17:00 Very well done, you should be very proud of yourselves, what an achievement for such young people.
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By Ron Cox,Water Activities Adviser,Wales.
on 19/09/2009 18:11 Well done guys,this is why we train,I wonder what name the lady you rescued will give her child.
One up for the Scouts.
Take Care.
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By Dean Bolton
on 19/09/2009 18:31 It's brilliant to hear that kind of positive story on teenagers these days as there are so many bad publications in the media. Keep up the great Scouting ethos.
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By Gavin Duffy
on 19/09/2009 21:58 Brilliant, well done folks. Credit to yourselves and your unit. Keeping a clear head when the brown stuff hits the fan for real can't be taught, you suddenly reaise what a true adrenalin rush is!
Big round of applause from us up here in Scotland
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By Mike
on 20/09/2009 10:37 Basically this proves how awesome explorer scouts are. Good going!
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By Nicola Laurent
on 20/09/2009 11:25 Well done guys. This shows what very valuble training is gained through the scouting movement, you should all be very proud of yourselves.
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By christine
on 20/09/2009 12:10 well done to you all, it's nice to hear you all work as a team when needed.cong on your awards as well you all desivered them.
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By Shaun McDermott, Akela 1st/36th Warmsworth, Doncaster
on 20/09/2009 16:09 It is actions like this that capture the whole ethos of being a scout. Aside from doing justice to the movement and all we stand for, these boys and girls have illustrtated just how caring the vast majority of their generation can be. The bravery of all concerned is worthy of the highest award avbailable to them within the movement, and ought to be brought to the attention of the nation. We should all be shouting this positive story from the roof tops! Well done folks!
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By Waqar
on 20/09/2009 19:20 Well done to all the Explorer Scouts involved. It's never easy implementing the skills you've learnt in a real life situation. So Well done to all you, and continue to BE PREPARED!
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By Alison Sterling
on 20/09/2009 20:54 Well done. You are a credit to all Scouts and young people.
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By Michael Brown
on 21/09/2009 08:14 I am a canoeist! The report reveals an excellent demonstration of the importance and application of good training and team work. Well done.
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By Peter Winn
on 21/09/2009 09:24 A wonderful story of the benefits of good quality Scout training, personal and team development. Let's hope they get something else in addition to what are no doubt justifiably deserved awards.
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By Peter Dodman
on 21/09/2009 09:27 Well done to the Explorer Scouts - their training obviously paid off and they acted as mature young people. Congratulations also for carrying on to complete the expedition in spite of the drama.
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By john
on 21/09/2009 10:29 well done lets brilliant guys an galls lets hope others who read this that are now in scouting feel encourage to join and learn new skillls
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By Richard Miles GSL 219th Birmingham
on 21/09/2009 10:36 Amazing, well done for your quick thinking and keeping calm, you're all life savers. We're all proud of you.
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By Steve Hodkin (Bosun)
on 21/09/2009 14:53 Well done indeed! A credit to us all.
Glenis, you are not 'only' a campsite warden. Without 'everyday' heroes like you the weekend activities would just not happen most of the time.
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By Sean Barlow
on 21/09/2009 17:04 Fantastic This is what scouting is all about. Well done. You guys are a credit to the movement. Bet at the time you never gave it a second thought and just got stuck in.
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By Anne Gargett, BSL -1st Petteril Vale Beavers
on 21/09/2009 20:25 You're a credit to the Scout Movement and you deserve all the awards going and not just from Scouting. My little Beavers will be hearing all about your bravery next time we meet and learning some river safety too.
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By Dave Ridout (GSL 4th Fulwood and former ACC Activities, DofE Expedition Assessor Cumbria Area Network) - West Lancashire)
on 21/09/2009 21:50 Well done all of you. You deserve all the credit you get, not least because you have demonstrated the benefits of "Scouting". Your skill and abilities on your expedition were put to a good test and you were well prepared. Well done!Scout and Proud!
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By paul harris
on 22/09/2009 19:14 this is a tipical example of how working together realy helps you perform at your best, its a true testament to what all scouting leaders try to get thier young people to work for.
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A group of 16-year-old Llangollen Scouts have been involved in a river rescue drama on the River Wye during their Duke of Edinburgh's Award expedition.