Rescue equipment installed at Parkgate canal near to where boy (11) drowned

EQUIPMENT which could save lives has been installed next to a Rotherham canal where an 11-year-old boy drowned two years ago.
Pictured with the life-saving equipment are (from left to right): Parkgate Shopping centre manager Janet Drury, health and safety advisor for the Canal River Trust Stephen Williamson, water safety practitioner for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Gary Willoughby, drowning victim Subhaan Ali’s mum Zaura Ali and DC Victoria Kenny. 180742Pictured with the life-saving equipment are (from left to right): Parkgate Shopping centre manager Janet Drury, health and safety advisor for the Canal River Trust Stephen Williamson, water safety practitioner for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Gary Willoughby, drowning victim Subhaan Ali’s mum Zaura Ali and DC Victoria Kenny. 180742
Pictured with the life-saving equipment are (from left to right): Parkgate Shopping centre manager Janet Drury, health and safety advisor for the Canal River Trust Stephen Williamson, water safety practitioner for South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Gary Willoughby, drowning victim Subhaan Ali’s mum Zaura Ali and DC Victoria Kenny. 180742

Subhaan Ali’s mum Zaura Ali (pictured), of Eastwood, was at the unveiling of the throwline station behind Parkgate Shopping along with representatives from South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue (SYFR) and South Yorkshire Police.

The specially designed station contains a throwline which is stored securely to avoid vandalism, with an access code given to callers by 999 operators in the event of an emergency.

The equipment is one of more than 20 to be installed by SYFR at open water across South Yorkshire over the last two years including Ulley Reservoir and Thrybergh Country Park.

The £630 throwline has been funded by Parkgate Shopping.

Janet Drury, Parkgate Shopping manager, said: “Although it’s not our land, its adjacent to Parkgate.

“We thought it would be a good thing to improve the safety of the canal area.”

A South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue spokesman said: “Around 400 people needlessly drown in the UK every year and thousands more suffer injury, some life- changing, through near-drowning experiences. These stations provide quick access rescue capability for anyone who might find themselves in difficulties in the water.”

For more on this story see this week's Advertiser.

Related topics: