Source: Radio New Zealand
RNZ / Richard Tindiller
A long-serving Wellington firefighter can chalk up another first after a callout to a toddler with a tambourine stuck on his neck.
The Johnsonville crew was called to the incident at a daycare centre around 10.20am on Friday.
Watch commander John Devereux said the child – thought to be about one – got the tambourine over his head and couldn’t get it off again.
“He wasn’t distressed at all. It was loosely around his neck. He was wearing it like a loose collar.”
Devereux said the musical instrument was made of laminated wood – no match for a pair of bolt cutters.
While the toddler was distracted by the fire engine, a crew member crept around the back of his head, Devereux said and snipped the tambourine off.
“I don’t think he even noticed.”
The callout was a first for Devereux in his 47 years in the fire service.
“I haven’t been to a tambourine over the head, but I have been to a couple of buckets over the head.”
He said dishwashing liquid or snips usually sorted those out.
Asked how the crew was feeling about the success, he said it was: “Just another day at the office”.
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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand