Boy rescued from floating bale

A YOUNG boy, who was unable to swim climbed onto a bale by the side of the Grand Union Canal near Loughborough.

But either someone pushed the bale into the canal or the wake of a passing boat pulled it away, reports Janet Friend.

Either way, he was stuck in the middle and he could do nothing about it, until passers by on the towpath called the emergency services.

Alerted

This alerted the Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service that released the accompanying photograph of its officers pulling the bale back to the bank and helping him from his perch.

The officers used a special tool they carry to haul the bale in.

This occurred on Tuesday 6th August, with the boy no worse for his ordeal.