On Tuesday night, WRAS founder and on call rescue Coordinator Trevor Weeks, received a call to a fox the had been hit by a car in Wick Street, between Berwick and Upper Dicker.

Trevor arrived on site and searched the area and believed the fox had scrambled under a bridge over a flowing stream just off the road. Trevor fearing the worse, rang Chris Riddington, WRAS rescue manager to assist. Whilst waiting for Chris to attend Trevor started to prepare for the rescue and had placed a ladder into the stream ready for the rescue attempt. Whilst setting up equipment Trevor slipped, banged his head and landed on the rocks.

"It all happened so fast, I just slipped and before I knew it, I was on my back in the water" explained Trevor “I felt sick and I was worried I was going to pass out and fall further into the water and drown”

Trevor managed to call Chris and briefly explained what had happened. "I was on my way to help with the rescue when, he rang again, he just shouted he had banged his head and had fallen" explained Chris "I just panicked, the last thing you expect to have to rush to is a colleague and a friend in danger".

Chris and Laura arrived on site and found the WRAS ambulance parked up with its lights on and engine running. "We shouted his name and we got no response" explained Laura "it's only when I noticed his torch in the water we knew where he was".

"I looked over the top of the bridge and he was just laying there on his back not moving, half in the water and half on the rocks" said Laura.

Chris climbed down the bank into the water and made his way over to Trevor on the rocks. "I couldn't believe it, seeing him like that was horrible, I just tried not to panic" said Chris "I went over to him and just reassured him I was there, asked him where it was hurting. It seemed he was drifting out of consciousness and was shaking. I asked Laura to throw down some blankets to wrap around him to warm him up and also to try and divert the water around him. I just kept talking to him and held on to him so the pressure was off his back" added Chris.

Laura had called 999 and an ambulance response vehicle was on site very quickly followed by an ambulance and the fire brigade. "I couldn't believe how quick they were and how many turned up" explained Laura. The fire brigade had also sent out their rapid water rescue unit and a technical rescue unit. "The ambulance crew were amazing, they were so professional and explained everything to Trevor and myself throughout" explained Chris.

Trevor was given gas and air and then strapped to a spinal board. Fire crew with safety ropes, used one of their ladders as a slipway and with the help of the ambulance crew winched Trevor to the road.

Trevor was rushed to Brighton Royal Sussex Hospital. His partner Kathy was rushed over by rescuers from WRAS. "I didn't know what to think, I had just drifted off to sleep when they called. Its the call that no one wants to have" said Kathy.

Trevor spent the next 7 hours in the Accident and Emergency majors department with Kathy by his side before moving to SAU earlier this morning. After having an X-ray and an MRI, it was found not to have any fracture. Trevor was given the all clear and was discharged home for rest at 11pm on Wednesday evening.

Trevor said tonight once home "A huge big thank you to the emergency services especially the Fire & Rescue Service and the Ambulance Service for helping me out. I don't remember much about the whole incident, apart from be in such pain, shaking so much and Chris mentioning something about "fishies in the water" but it scared the hell out of me. I am so appreciative of everyone who was involved in getting me out of the water as that can't have been easy but especially to my colleagues Christopher and Laura for helping me so well, being so caring and supportive and for collecting Kathy and bring her down to see me at the Royal Sussex County Hospital where the staff were nothing but amazing and kind. I am very lucky not to have come away with worse injuries and with nothing fractured. I'm on crutches at the moment but improving. I don't know what I have done to deserve friends like Chris and Laura or a partner like Kathy. I am VERY grateful and feel very humbled by the who experienced. Thank you to everyone at the Hospital for being so kind and helpful and also to everyone at WRAS’s centre who covered especially Lindsay Redfern. It was SO reassuring that I didn't have to worry about all the casualties. We get a lot of flak at WRAS from people saying we don't do enough, we could do better, people accusing us of not caring or not doing enough, when we can't help because we are exhausted or don't have room, or we don't have the manpower - who then claim we wouldn't / refused to help or can't be bothered or don't care – this is what makes it so difficult when run down and tired to say no to a rescue. I am so grateful I was wearing a safety helmet and had Chris on his way.”

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