THE role of a firefighter involves far more than just fighting fires, it also involves rescue operations - just ask Bovey Tracey’s crew.

For their weekly drill night the great and good from Bovey Tracey Fire Station headed around the corner to Parke where they carried out an entrapment exercise; a tree surgeon trapped under a large tree trunk.

The casualty, which was a mock dummy, had also sustained a deep cut from his chainsaw.

‘Crews had to think quickly and prioritise treatment to his various injuries which included a compromised airway, heavy bleeding, a skull fracture and other suspected broken bones’ a spokesman for Bovey Tracey Fire Statin said.

‘In the scenario, crews removed branches from the casualty’s neck and administered oxygen therapy and a tourniquet was placed on the patients leg to stem the heavy bleeding.

‘The crew carefully set up hydraulic gear and stabilisation while we awaited “paramedics” to arrive as any sudden release could have caused the casualty to bleed out or go into toxic shock’ the spokesman added.