Firefighters blast a DRONE out of a tree with a high-powered hose after it gets stuck 30ft above a London park – leaving bystanders bemused about the sky-high costs
- Eye witnesses said at least 10 firefighters and two engines attended the scene
- Onlookers also said they thought the operation was to rescue a cat – not a drone
- Many, including Taxpayers’ Alliance, say the man who called should face charges
Firefighters were called to retrieve a drone which got stranded at the top of a 30ft tree in Battersea Park.
The incident caused a backlash from onlookers who described it as a ‘waste of resources’ since drones are banned in the park.
An unknown man had been filming with the airborne camera in the 200-acre green space on Sunday when his drone became stuck in the tree.
Firefighters in Battersea Park using a high-pressure hose to shoot a drone out of a 30ft tree
Drone was brought safely to the ground from 30ft using a high pressure hose and safety sheet
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Shocked visitors assumed that the London Fire Brigade was rescuing a cat stuck up the tree, until they spotted the remote controlled device lodged in the branches.
At least 10 firefighters and two fire engines attended the scene at 1.28pm on Sunday afternoon, an eyewitness claimed.
The footage captures the firefighters using a high-powered jet to blast the device from a tree.
Firefighters pictured standing by a cordon after responding to a call out of a drone in a tree
Four firefighters stood underneath the tree holding a large canopy to capture it.
A woman who was visiting the park with her young children said the man who owned the drone defended calling the emergency service.
She said: ‘He said to me that they have to get it down in case it falls and hits someone.’
She added: ‘It was pretty unbelievable.
‘They had been flying it in Battersea Park and it had got stuck.
‘There was two fire engines at the scene, it was a bit excessive!
A crowd gathered to watch the spectacle as up to 10 firefighters battled to release the drone
‘I was at the park with my children and there was a big crowd of people so we went to see what was going on.
‘Everyone thought they were rescuing a cat at first until we saw the hose.
‘No one could believe it when we heard it was a drone. Everyone was quite disappointed too!’
The video has been shared online, where critics have called for the unidentified man to pay a donation to the firefighters.
People commenting after the video was shared online described the call-out as a waste of time
Marcos Schneider posted: ‘Hire a tree surgeon – that’s what I did when it happened to me.
‘I’d never dream of calling the fire service for something so trivial!
Andy Naidu said: ‘I’ve got no problem with people buying dangerous toys if the risks posed are only to them, but these pose a risk to the public.’
Ben Almond added: ‘Hope he gets charged for the call out.’
A London Fire Brigade spokeswoman said: ‘We were called at 1.28pm to a drone in a precarious position in a tree.
Fire crews dealt with the incident in 30 minutes after responding to a call at 1.28pm on Sunday
‘One drone was brought safely to the ground using a high pressure hose.
‘The incident was over at 1.58pm.’
James Price, Campaign Manager at the TaxPayers’ Alliance, said:
‘Taxpayers will be angry to see that at the same time as claiming they have no money, fire brigades are being called out for such pathetic reasons as drones stuck in trees.
Not only is this a complete waste of time, it also represents money and resources that could and should be used better elsewhere.
‘We need to change our relationship with these services and we should look at charging people who make such spurious requests of public services.’
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