A firefighter saves a child in Saarland. - Seventeen-year-old Niclas acts courageously during a flood.
A widely circulated photo features a firefighter standing in waist-deep water. The force of the flood is so strong that garbage bins are being swept away. However, the firefighter remains steadfast in the torrent. In his arms, he holds a small child securely.
Niclas Göllen (17), from the Burbach volunteer fire department (Saarland), is the flood hero of Saarbrücken. He was one of numerous volunteers from the fire departments who rushed to assist.
The water level rose rapidly
The water level in Fischbachstraße surged to 1.50 meters in just half an hour. Suddenly, the order was given: 75 houses needed to be evacuated! Women, men, and children waited anxiously for the fire department's arrival. Some of them were rescued from the second floor of their homes via the roofs of emergency vehicles.
Then there was this boy.
Niclas recalls: "He was at home with his mother and had no way to escape. The water was almost up to my waist in front of the house. I scooped up the boy and carried him through the water. A colleague of mine rescued the mother."
The fire department relocated all residents to a nearby school gym
Despite his age of only 17, Niclas remained calm and focused on his crucial mission. Thanks to his cool demeanor, the child didn't appear frightened and quickly gained trust: "It felt almost like an adventure for him. We also turned on the blue lights in the emergency vehicle briefly and then carried him to dry land." The child was saved.
The helpers transported all the residents from Fischbachstraße to the gymnasium of a nearby school. Thankfully, there were no injuries.
The following day, the rain subsided. However, no all-clear had been issued yet. Large parts of Saarland were flooded, and the possibility of additional heavy rain was still looming. The full extent of the damage was unknown on Saturday afternoon. In Fischbachstraße, the fire department was clearing debris and pumping out basements.
Niclas, the hero, returned to lend a hand.
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Source: symclub.org
