RFS training pays big dividend for rescuer

AN off-duty Primrose Sands firefighter who rescued a woman after her car ended up in a river has paid tribute to rescue training provided by Tasmania Fire Service.

Southern Tasmanian woman Grace was lucky to escape uninjured when her car went down an embankment into the Carlton River on Saturday afternoon.

Kevin Haley, 44, was on his way home from a shopping trip on Saturday when he came across the accident on Primrose Sands Rd.

“I was actually coming home from grocery shopping with my partner and drove straight past and didn’t even see it,’’ he said.

“One of our fire brigade members was coming the other way flashing his lights at me and pointing.”

Mr Haley reversed his car and saw Grace’s car on its side in the water.

His partner called triple-0 while he climbed down a 2.5m embankment and waded to the car.

“The water was only about knee deep, the driver’s side was submerged. I touched the exhaust to see if it had been in there for a while but it was red hot. I got around to the roof of the car and there was Grace helping herself out of the seatbelt,” Mr Haley said.

“She said she felt fine. I said to be honest I don’t know what’s going to happen to the car so we need to get you out and get you warm. So I pulled her out of the car … she’s a very lucky lady.”

The volunteer firefighter, who owns a plumbing and heating business, said his TFS training kicked in when he saw the car in the water.

“I’m pretty calm anyway but the way the Tasmania Fire Service do their training is second to none, it’s absolutely fantastic and I put everything down yesterday what I did, to their training,” he said.

Mr Haley said he was grateful the rescue had a happy ending.

“I’m thankful this doesn’t happen every time we go shopping,” he said.