what3words app leads firefighters to trapped horse

Have you downloaded what3words?

DISCREPANCY.LIBRARIAN.ANGEL were the three words from the smartphone app what3words that led our firefighters to a horse who was trapped in the River Stort in Harlow.

Crews were called by a passing member of the public to a horse who was trapped in the river two miles from the nearest road. Our Control Room team advised the caller to download what3words, a free smartphone app that can quickly and easy give an accurate location.

Using a head harness and lead, firefighters were able to control the horse to lead it to safety in a nearby secure field just before 11am where it has been happily munching on grass with its equine friends. 

Watch Manager Kirk Collins from Old Harlow Fire Station said: “When we found the horse in the water, it was happily munching away at the grass and our Animal Rescue Unit gave expert advice in the best way to rescue this horse. We worked together to keep the horse calm and under control while leading it away to safety quickly before it trotted off unharmed.

“We’d really encourage the public to download what3words as it makes it much easier for us to find you in a remote location and in an emergency. You can download the app at https://w3w.page.link/4ozM.”

Could you be an on-call firefighter?

Old Harlow’s firefighters are on-call firefighters who all live or work within 5 minutes of Old Harlow Fire Station. If you live or work within 5 minutes of Old Harlow Fire Station, you could be paid to protect your community as an on-call firefighter. 

Find out more at join.essex-fire.gov.uk/on-call