The first incident occurred on June 27 at approximately 1:30 p.m. Bolesławiec County Headquarters of the State Fire Service:
The Bolesławiec fire service command center received a report that a man was drowning below a weir on the Kwisa River near Osiecznica. When the first firefighters from the Volunteer Fire Department in Osiecznica arrived at the scene, they confirmed that the man was outside the inflatable boat and was having trouble getting out of the water.
The strong river current and the backed-up water, together with tree branches by the river weir, were pulling the man underwater. A fisherman on the riverbank tried to help by handing him a tree branch. Two rescuers from the Volunteer Fire Department in Osiecznica, wearing life jackets, jumped into the water to rescue the drowning man.
After reaching the drowning man, they brought him to the riverbank with the help of the person on the bank. He was given qualified first aid and then handed over to the Bolesławiec Emergency Medical Team, which had arrived at the scene.
The rapid arrival of the local Volunteer Fire Department unit, the rescuers’ courageous action and the assistance of the witness made it possible to save the drowning person’s life. It should be added that the river current was fast after the recent heavy rainfall, and the backed-up water at the river weir also posed a danger to the rescuers’ lives.
The Bolesławiec uniformed officers add:
Interventions on rivers are not frequent operations for rescuers in Bolesławiec County, yet just a few hours later fire service forces were dispatched to a similar incident. At 5:18 p.m., they were sent to Zebrzydowa, where a resident noticed a kayak trapped among branches in the Kwisa River. After the watercraft was pulled onto the bank, it turned out that backpacks containing personal belongings were inside the kayak. Since there was no one nearby, a search was conducted along the riverbank. After contacting water-equipment rental companies, it was established that one of the owners was looking for the missing equipment. When the owner of the watercraft arrived at the scene and confirmed ownership of the kayak and the personal belongings, the search was discontinued.
In both cases, the Specialized Water and Diving Rescue Group from Legnica was dispatched to the scene. Unfortunately, during its emergency journey, a fire service vehicle collided with a passenger car at the intersection of Cieszkowskiego and Staszica streets in Bolesławiec. As a result, the people traveling in the passenger car were taken to hospital. The Police investigated the cause of the road incident.
And they emphasize:
The Bolesławiec County Headquarters of the State Fire Service appeals to people staying near the rivers and bodies of water in the county to exercise caution, so that reckless water sports and recreation by the water do not lead to tragedy.