Firefighters use air-bag to free tree-climbing schoolboy

The firefighters had to be called to the rear of Sidley Community Primary School on Thursday lunch-time where the seven year-old was stuck in a fir tree.

The boy was only about five feet off the ground. But had slipped into a fork in the tree, trapping his knee.

Because his knee joint had swollen, firefighters were unable to pull the lad clear.

So, for the second time in a few days, they put the air-bags they carry to jack up wrecked vehicles to different use.

As the air-bag eased the two tree limbs fractionally apart, the team were able to lift the lad clear and hand him to a waiting ambulance crew for checks.

The previous use of the air-bag was to jack up a beach hut and free a Jack Russell terrier which had became trapped under it.