A man was rescued from a marsh near Skierniewice on December 15 after a dog in a wicker basket alerted firefighters to his location.
Man Falls Into River
A call went out at around 21:00 on 15 December from a man in urgent need of help after falling into a river in the forest. Contact was difficult; he could only say he was somewhere in the woods. Investigators later judged that he might be between Maków and Płyćwia, and units of the police and fire brigade were dispatched to that area.
Firefighters from OSP Godzianów, who know the local marshes and forests well, played a key role in the operation.
Dog Leads to Breakthrough
After almost an hour of searching, the man was located in the marsh at Płyćwia. He had been walking his dog, which was carried in a wicker basket. When the dog tired, it began to bark, and the sound was heard by the firefighters who followed it.
The man was severely chilled, with the air temperature close to 0 °C.
Evacuation in Marshland
Once found, the man was sheltered from further cold. Because the terrain was marshy and an ambulance could not reach, firefighters carried him on a rescue board to a medical team about a kilometre away.
He was transported to hospital and handed over to doctors; the dog was secured by police patrol and later taken to the man’s home, where it was handed over to his mother.
How to Call for Help
Quick and effective contact is essential in emergencies. Use emergency numbers: 112 for general services, 999 for ambulance, 998 for fire, 997 for police. If you are on water, call WOPR at 601‑100‑100; in the mountains, contact GOPR or TOPR at 985 or 601‑100‑300.
When speaking with dispatchers, answer factually about the location, what happened, how many injured, and the condition of the victims. Provide your personal details and contact number.
