Quick-thinking Parkrun volunteer praised after river rescue

Derek Fearnside was marshalling for the Parkrun event at Pitchcroft on Saturday (April 15) when he realised a boat had capsized.

Aware of the dangers that the cold, fast-flowing Severn posed, Mr Fearnside was quick to call 999 and five people were rescued from the river by firefighters.

“I was marshalling for Parkrun at my usual spot when I saw something happening on the other side of the river,” he said.

A boat got into trouble on the River Severn on Saturday morning (Image: Worcester Pitchcroft Parkrun)

“I quite often see the rowing club out on the river and enjoy watching them as well as the runners.

“There was a bank of trees between myself and the river, but I heard shouting and could see a boat had become stuck on the Hylton Road side.

“They were there for a few minutes trying to right the boat but then it capsized and they were tipped into the river.

"The water is freezing cold this time of year and the currents are extremely strong.

READ MORE: Firefighters boat rescue after police spotted it from Worcester Bridge

“I heard them calling for help from other rowers but it could have taken ages for them to get there so I called fire and rescue.

“The safety boat came from the rowing club about five minutes later but even that struggled to get to them because the current was so strong.”

Derek, who has been volunteering at Parkrun for the past few years, said the fire service were quick to attend.

The Midland Air Ambulance was also seen circling overhead.

Derek says he enjoys helping to put on Parkrun events as so many people enjoy them (Image: Worcester Pitchcroft Parkrun)

A fire service spokesperson said: “Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service was called out at 9.15am on Saturday to a report of people in the water after a boat capsized on the River Severn in Worcester.

“Two crews from Worcester Fire Station attended Grandstand Road as well as a water rescue team from Worcester and water first responders from Droitwich.

“All people were accounted for with five having entered the water and they did not require medical treatment.”

Derek has been named ‘volunteer of the week’ by the Parkrun organisers, who said others may not have “acted so promptly and with so cool a head, allowing the right rescuers to be on scene so quickly”.

But modest Derek was quick to add: “It’s what anyone would have done.”