Help us save lives plea from Tipperary Fire & Rescue swift water service

A  River Suir swift water river rescue leader  has issued a new appeal to the public to have no hesitation in making a call to mobilise crews to save lives.

Crews based at fire stations in Clonmel, Carrick-on-Suir and Cahir along the Suir, which has claimed a number of lives in heartbreaking tragedies in recent weeks, are in training and on stand-by to reduce the death toll on the river.

The swift water rescue crews are retained fire fighters with Tipperary County Council Fire & Rescue service.By next month, for the first time since the swift water rescue service was  established six  years ago, fire fighting personnel in all twelveTipperary fire stations will have undergone training in swift water rescue.

Paddy Pyke of Tipperary Fire & Rescue, who is responsible for swift water training  in the county , appealed to the public to waste no time in calling them out.

"People should not wait, we are there to save lives.People who call will not be billed.  Time is crucial to enable us to save lives . The sad reality is the number of lives claimed by the river is increasing between Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir in particular", said Mr Pyke,