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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| 'Miracle' as father and son saved | 'Miracle' as father and son saved |
| (about 21 hours later) | |
| A father and his nine-year-old son who were swept away in a rain-swollen Devon river have been rescued. | A father and his nine-year-old son who were swept away in a rain-swollen Devon river have been rescued. |
| Michael Byrne, nine, was playing with his pet dog by the West Lyn river near his home at Lynmouth when he fell in. | Michael Byrne, nine, was playing with his pet dog by the West Lyn river near his home at Lynmouth when he fell in. |
| His father Daryl, dressed in a coat and pyjamas, dived into the river to save him, but also got into trouble and both were left clinging to a rock. | His father Daryl, dressed in a coat and pyjamas, dived into the river to save him, but also got into trouble and both were left clinging to a rock. |
| The pair were rescued by Devon and Somerset Fire Service who said they were lucky to be alive. | The pair were rescued by Devon and Somerset Fire Service who said they were lucky to be alive. |
| There was no way I was letting my son go in that river without trying at least to save him Daryl Byrne | |
| An RMB Chivenor helicopter had been called out but the fast-flowing river, surrounding trees and a 40ft (12m) embankment made an airlift impossible. | |
| Instead firefighters used ropes and ladders to rescue the pair who were taken to hospital suffering cold and shock. | Instead firefighters used ropes and ladders to rescue the pair who were taken to hospital suffering cold and shock. |
| Michael said: "I got swept away because of the fast, crashing water. It pulled me away. | |
| "It was really hard to swim in the river, it was always gushing on top of you and you couldn't even breathe for one second." | |
| The pair hung onto a rock in the middle of the river | |
| Mr Byrne, who was swept down the river, said: "There was no way I was letting my son go in that river without trying at least to save him. | Mr Byrne, who was swept down the river, said: "There was no way I was letting my son go in that river without trying at least to save him. |
| "Luckily there was a branch that my knee got caught on and that helped me onto the rocks where he was." | "Luckily there was a branch that my knee got caught on and that helped me onto the rocks where he was." |
| Dave Harding, of Lynmouth Coastguard, said: "The river conditions were horrendous. I have not seen it as bad as that. | Dave Harding, of Lynmouth Coastguard, said: "The river conditions were horrendous. I have not seen it as bad as that. |
| "If you fell into the river you would be lucky to survive. For the father to survive as well is a miracle." | "If you fell into the river you would be lucky to survive. For the father to survive as well is a miracle." |
| Station officer Glenn Wells, based at Barnstaple fire station, said: "They are extremely lucky to be alive and we are very pleased with the positive outcome of this operation." | Station officer Glenn Wells, based at Barnstaple fire station, said: "They are extremely lucky to be alive and we are very pleased with the positive outcome of this operation." |