Evening Times - January 15, 2009
Hero’s plea after Clyde tragedy
A MAN who was pulled from the icy waters of the Clyde by Glasgow's river hero George Parsonage has died in hospital.
The tragedy sparked new calls from Mr Parsonage, of Glasgow Humane Society, for a better working relationship with the designated rescue services.
Health and safety laws mean Mr Parsonage is no longer called out when someone falls into the river.
But when he was told someone was in the Clyde he swung into action - and got there before a 999 rescue team.
He said: "A man was in trouble yards from my home. What else am I going to do but help him?
"My wife saw the flashing blue lights from our house and when I went out to ask fire teams what was happening I was pretty much ignored.
"I launched the boat and had the man out of the water before the fire boat could be launched."
The incident happened around 7am yesterday, near the rowing club at Glasgow Green where Mr Parsonage lives.
The man, who had fallen into the river, was rushed to hospital suffering from shock and hypothermia but died later in the day.
Mr Parsonage added: "I am really upset. It is the first time I have rescued a man and been talking to him and then he has died.
"The man was in the water upstream at the weir, which is all I managed to find out. I launched the boat and managed to get the man in the boat using a throw line. He was struggling and was in a real panic."
Mr Parsonage is now calling on the emergency services to work with the city's Humane Society.
He added: "We need some kind of partnership now or more lives will be lost. Our society could take the stretch from the weir to the Belvedere strait and the fire service could cover downstream.
"I am not going to waste a second while lives are at risk on the river."
Mr Parsonage has been credited with saving 1500 people over the past 25 years.
Health and safety rules meant Strathclyde Police had to stop using George's services - and from 2005 it has been the responsibility of Strathclyde Fire & Rescue.
Sixty firefighters from Polmadie, Knightswood and Renfrew stations staff the service, so there is always a crew on call.
When an emergency is reported at Polmadie, a three-strong crew rushes from there to Glasgow's Nautical College, where their craft is based, within 90 seconds.
Strathclyde Fire and Rescue declined to comment on the incident or Mr Parsonage's calls for a new partnership.
However, a fire service spokesman said: "We have a long established and fruitful liaison with the Glasgow Humane Society who assist the service with the provision of risk information for this stretch of water.
"We look forward to carrying on with this extremely effective partnership."