Impressed firefighters have welcomed a lifesaving five-year-old to their station as a thank you for his heroic actions.

Last Wednesday (July 5th), schoolboy Logan Allison was out for a walk with his mam Kimberley when she slipped and fell into the River Wear.

The mud was so thick she was unable to pull herself out and, with the water rising fast, Kimberley’s was scared.

That’s when her son flagged down a passer-by and asked them to call 999 and request the fire service to help his mam.

Crews from Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service’s (TWFRS) Washington Community Fire Station sprang into action and raced over to the scene.

They jumped into the water at the location in Washington and quickly reunited Kimberley with her son on the riverbank.

The firefighters were so impressed with Logan’s calm and quick thinking in the face of danger they invited him on a tour of their station and a ride in a fire engine.

Yesterday (Wednesday) White Watch from Washington got their chance to thank Logan in person and give him an experience he will never forget.

Firefighter David Kelly said, “We often go into schools and educate young people about the dangers of the water and how you can help someone in danger.

“But it’s not often with people as young as Logan so it’s really great to know he knew to call us and get out help.

“Giving Logan the opportunity to come into the station is a small token of our gratitude for his calm and quick response that evening.

“And who knows maybe we’ve inspired a future firefighter.”

FF Kelly added: “We would always encourage parents to have a conversation with their children so they know to call 999 in an emergency.

“That could be for an incident like this, a fire or a medical emergency. It’s a simple conversation but could save a life.”

Since Logan’s heroics last week, he has been rewarded for his bravery in the form of two guinea pigs, named Steven and Phoebe, as well as a Head Teacher’s award at school.

He also inspired a school wide assembly about how young people can stay safe around the water this summer holiday.

Kimberley said “I’m so proud of Logan, he was so calm even though it was a stressful situation and really helped me.

“I work with children through my business and we talk about the great work that firefighters and other blue light services do but you never think you are going to need them until something like this happens.

“No child is too young to understand what to do when they feel they are in danger or someone they love needs help.

“I can’t thank the firefighters enough for helping us last week, and for setting this up Logan will remember this for the rest of his life.

“Logan loves superheroes and having this experience in the fire station will hopefully make him realise that heroes do exist and he is mine.”

The weather may be getting warmer, but the water can be icy cold, and TWFRS cannot stress enough the risks of cold-water shock, and the effect this has on even the most competent of swimmers.

They say only consider entering water in controlled environments where there are lifeguards on duty, and do not go for a swim in rivers, lakes, or unsupervised bodies of water where there could be a number of hidden dangers.

If you do see anyone in difficulty in the water, do not enter the water. Instead, call 999 and ask for the fire service if you are inland or the Coastguard if you are by the sea.

If you get in to difficulty yourself, then a simple skill remember is ‘Float to Live’.

Simply lean back like a starfish and use your arms and legs to stay afloat.

This will allow you to control your breathing and then call for help or swim to safety. The technique has been proven to save lives.