Emergency services rescue man who got into difficulties on bank of Peterborough lake

The incident happened on Friday night last week (May 7) at a lake that sits in between Aqua Drive, Hampton Water and Rolls Close, Yaxley.

The man had got into difficulty around the steep banks around the side of the lake.

In order to help emergency services find him, the man used an app called what3words.

The app is used by emergency responders and splits up the world into a grid, with each individual square assigned a unique combination of three words. Repeating those three words accurately conveys your position to the relevant rescue teams.

The ambulance service’s Hazardous Area Response Team are believed to have been the first on the scene, later calling for assistance from the Fire and Rescue Service and the Police at around 9pm.

Due to the difficulties in accessing the man, caused by the steep bank, it was decided that the best access path was via the water on an inflatable ice rescue path.

Emergency services were on site for less than two hours and were able to successfully rescue the man, who was then taken to Peterborough City Hospital.

It is believed that the man accessed the spot where he got into difficulties via a broken fence that landowners O&H have now repaired.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “Crews were called to assist the ambulance service on Friday evening at around 9pm on Aqua Drive, Hampton.

“Due to the steep bank the best access route was via the water on an ice rescue path.

“What3words was used to locate the incident between emergency services.

“Crews were on the scene for less than 2 hours.”

A Cambridgeshire Police spokesperson added: “We were called at just before 9pm to a man who had got into difficulties on a bank of a lake near Rolls Close. We supported fire and ambulance and he was taken to PCH after being found.”