Rescue

The good news is that this wasn't a real rescue, but a practice by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service. They are practicing a rescue from the roof area of the south transept of York Minster.

There is an external walkway at the foot of the roof, and those energetic enough to climb to the top of the Minster central tower ascend stairs to below the pinacle in this shot then along the walkway from right to left before ascending more steps to the top of the central tower. The Fire and Rescue team have had to perform a real rescue from here in the past, and on at least one occasion someone was threatening to jump from the walkway.

Unfortunately Katharine and I only got there in time to see the end of the practice. This isn't the first practice that I've seen - several years ago I was there to see a rescue helicopter above the central tower lowering a team member onto the roof, which was very dramatic.

Ian

[carol white]

Great capture

[Dianne]

Well done on getting this image. It’s good to hear it was not for real.

[Margaret Brown]

A great candid capture of this ‘rescue’

[Renee Salamon]

Right place, right time. Great capture

[gloria jones]

Nice capture of the practice drill...great pov

[Pyrrhula]

Great capture of rge castle and rescue.
(This is problem for our farmers to. Gladly they are compaseded by the goverment for it )

[Peter Dulis]

nice

[bkb in the city]

Great capture

[Dione Giorgio]

Clap hands for these brave men who take so many personal risks to save lives. I wouldn't go up there in that sort of cage for a million euros. Beautiful shot and thanks for sharing.

[Wylie]

very impressive!

[Paul Williamson]

Excellent, having the fire engine in the shot gives it proper scale.

[Fisher Family]

@carolmw @dide @craftymeg @rensala @seattlite @pyrrhula @pdulis @bkbinthecity @sangwann @pusspup @alfsson

Thank you all for your lovely comments and fav, they are very much appreciated.

Ironically the Fire and Rescue team were back near the Minster last night at the request of the Police who were searching rooftops for a thief who they believed had fled over rooftops. The Fire and Rescue team used searchlights and thermal imaging equipment to try and locate him (or her). Unfortunately he (she) wasn't found.

Ian

[Kathy A]

So glad this was only a practise, it's certainly a long way up!

[Fisher Family]

@kjarn

Thank you Kathy - we were fortunate to arrive just before they finished their practice.

Ian