Emergency services to rescue four-year old stuck in a water bottle!!
WHEN four-year-old Lenny Bardsley was playing with his new water bottle before bedtime, his
mother, Kirsty, had no inkling as to what the evening would bring.
Kirsty became aware that Lenny was in some difficulty extracting his thumb from the mouthpiece
of the bottle and try as she might, she wasn’t able to help. In a mild panic, she dialled 111 and was
advised to take him to Shotley Bridge hospital.
Her partner, Kevin, was at work so she quickly requested help from her sister, Fiona, to come and
look after her other two children who were ready for bed. She bundled Lenny into the car and drove
to the hospital. The staff there were as flummoxed as she was and after trying several ways to
dislodge Lenny’s thumb, decided to pass it over another emergency service – the Fire Brigade!
Within a few minutes, a crew from Consett Fire Station arrived at the hospital with blue lights
flashing.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Kirsty. “Even the hospital doctor was mortified. They were clearly
taking it seriously and were there in no time.”
As Dr Chris distracted Lenny with a computer game, the firefighters worked their magic with a
small saw and in no time at all his thumb was free. He was rewarded for being so brave with a teddy
bear given by the firefighters who also invited him on board the fire engine as a treat.
“They were the loveliest bunch of people, both the firefighters and the staff at the hospital. They
kept Lenny entertained and happy throughout the whole ordeal,” added a very grateful Kirsty.
It wasn’t long afterwards that Lenny was safely back home with nothing more than a sore thumb
and the experience of his short lifetime so far!
Well done to the staff of Shotley Bridge Hospital and firefighters from Consett Fire Station.
