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Near drowning brings call to heed danger signs


THE rapid and unpredictable na- ture of theweir atYaldingmade it- self known in another terrifying incident that nearly cost the life of a young girl on the hottest day of the year so far. The emergency has prompted


further calls fromthe Environment Agency,Yalding ParishCouncil and the emergency services for greater caution. GeraldineBrown, chairman of the


parish council,which paid for fenc- ing and warning signs at Anchor Sluice, agrees that on a warm day the weir pool appears an attractive place to bathe. But the automatic sluice gates and high water levels hide itsmenacing power. “The gates control three converg-


ing rivers and a canal to stop the vil- lage from flooding. Although this was a warm day, the water levels were high because of the recent rainfall and in less than three min- utes those bathing in the shadowof the sluice gates found themselves in deep, rolling,whitewater.” Fortunately, the 12-year-old was


rescued by a bystander who jumped in to save her on Saturday afternoon,April 21. Kent Search and Rescue (KSAR)


volunteerswere also training in the area. Chris Mallet (33) said: “We’d like to thank FredColalucawho put his life at risk to help the girl, who had swallowed a lot ofwater.” KSAR is working with Kent Fire


and Rescue to see if more can be done to improve safety at the weir. However,Chris added: “Theunpre- dictable nature of the sluice gates and other risks continue to make this an unsafe place to paddle.” A spokesman for the Environ-


Chairman of Yalding Parish Council, Geraldine Brown, at Anchor Sluice in the village


ment Agency said the organisation urged the public to stay away. “We believe the signs and fencing


are sufficient and those entering the water should be aware of the risks.” Cllr Brown said efforts would be


made to erect larger signs and to re- peat their safety message to pupils at local schools. She added: “This is not a swimming pool, it is a river and dangerous.” Ian Thomson, fromKent Fire and


Rescue Service, described the weir as a potentially “deadly location”. “The danger signs and ‘no swim-


ming’ signs are in place for a reason, to keep you and your family safe.”


News Island rescue


A MAN had to be rescued after falling from a rowing boat into a large pond. Two firefighters waded across


the pond to an island, where the man had taken refuge, and re- turned himto safety. It is understood that the pond, in


Biddenden Road, Headcorn, is about 40ft across, and at pointswas up to shoulder depth for the res- cuers. The firefighters wore dry suits


and helped the man back into the boat before bringing it back to shore. He was given a precaution- ary check and was advised to change intowarmdry clothes. The fire and rescue service was called at 9.30amon Friday,April 27.


Flood drama


A FAMILY had to be rescued by firefighters after getting stuck in floodwater in Sutton Valence. Two adults and a baby were


stuck in thewater in Stickfast Lane during the torrential rain on Mon- day,April 30. Two fire engines and a water


safety unit went to the scene, with crews using water rescue equip- ment to get the family to dry land. They also helped tomove the car.


Business Focus Are You Lungworm Aware?


Lungworm (or Angiostrongylus Vasorum) is a parasitic worm that affects dogs and foxes. It can cause serious health problems in dogs, and can be fatal. Lungworm is becoming increasingly common in South East England. Over 1000 cases have been reported within 50 miles of Maidstone and it is estimated that 50% of foxes in South East England are infected. The worms live in blood vessels within the lungs and can cause coughing, severe lung and heart disease and can also affect blood clotting, leading to internal and external bleeding. In the early stages of infection, dogs may show virtually no symptoms. All ages and breeds of dogs can be affected.


Lungworm is picked up by ingesting slugs and snails. Some of these slugs can be very small so you may not see your dog eating them; they may be picked up by eating grass, drinking from puddles, or


Maidstone 01622 752 154 Allington 01622 663 166 Langley Park 01622 808 084


even from playing with toys that have been left outside. Dogs may even pick up lungworm from the slime of infected slugs and snails.


Whilst it is possible to diagnose and treat lungworm, there have unfortunately been numerous cases of dogs dying from this disease.


Clearly, it is preferable to prevent lungworm rather than risk your dog contracting the disease. This can be easily achieved by using a specific prescription monthly spot-on which is only available from your vet; other products that are available “over the counter” have not been shown to provide effective protection against lungworm.


If you have any concerns, please give your local branch a call to book an appointment.


www. pennardvets.com Maidstone Weald May 2018 3


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