One of our Local Heroes, Andy Sellars, who works on the bin collection service in Sheffield, has also been awarded the Veolia North Region Hero Award, in the ‘Saves the Day’ Category. This is in recognition of his bravery in rescuing two men from a Sheffield Canal.
Luckily Andy and his crew were around when a van crashed into parked cars on Lumley Street and over-turned just outside the Veolia Sheffield depot.
On leaving the scene of the accident, the van driver and passenger slipped down the canal bank and fell into the canal. The water was extremely cold and deep and they were soon struggling.
Andy, a trained life-saver, didn’t hesitate, he jumped into the canal and dragged both men to the bank, where his crew-mates helped to pull them out.
One of the rescued men needed emergency first aid after swallowing a lot of water. Andy’s first aid skills were certainly put to the test. Andy’s quick-thinking and first aid skills were applauded by the paramedics when they arrived to take over.
Local Hero Andy joked ‘I kept my boots on because I didn’t know what was on the bottom of the canal, not to keep my feet warm in the icy water’
Veolia’s Regional Hero Award was presented to Andy by Phil Gilmour, Veolia Regional Director, North.
Phil said “Andy was the clear favourite for our Regional Hero Award in this category. He was nominated by many of his colleagues, and we all are extremely proud that his bravery, quick thinking and life-saving actions have been recognised.
