Skegness Magazine

RESCUED FROM SEWER
SKEGNESS MAN FALLS INSENSIBLE INTO EJECTOR CHAMBER
FIREMAN’S AMAZING FEAT

Source: Skegness News 1942

A very heroic rescue of one of his workmates, which undoubtedly was the cause of saving his life, was performed last week by Mr. George Houlden, of Alexandra Road, Skegness, an employee of the Skegness Council, who descended 22 feet in the narrow shaft of a sewer ejector chamber to bring out Mr. J. E. Chadwick, who had fallen into the chamber on being overcome by fumes and whose face was under the water.

Mr. Chadwick, of 29 Briar Way, Skegness, had been working very long hours in the confined space of a sewer ejector chamber at Vine Road, Skegness, where he had been emptying the ejectors. He had been for some considerable time in a not very pleasant atmosphere and when he climbed the ladder which brought him into the fresh air, he lost consciousness. He then fell back on to an iron platform, through an iron fence and passing between the ejectors, fell to the bottom of the chamber 22 feet below the road level. There was about 18 inches of water at the bottom and his face was covered by the liquid.

Working on the ground was Mr.George Houldon, who, without hesitation, descended the chamber and carried out a remarkable rescue when account is taken of the very confined space and the fact that the victim of the accident is a big man.
He carried Chadwick up two vertical ladders, through the fence, and finally out on to the roadway.

Some R.A.F. officers who were passing offered assistance and Chadwick, who suffered injuries, was brought home by car. He is now progressing fairly well.

The rescuer is a member of the National Fire Service and probably the training in rescue work which he has received as a fireman and also the instruction he obtained as a member of the 1st Skegness Coy the Boys Brigade stood him in good stead in performing his difficult and dangerous feat of carrying a heavy companion up a vertical ladder in a very confined space.