Ipswich: Firefighters reunited with rescued baby

ipswich: Tiny tot Sebastian Spicer is today smiling after a terrifying ordeal trapped inside a car.

The seven-month-old was locked inside the car as his worried mum Aly Chapman looked on helpless.

But thanks to the quick work of a fire crew from Princes Street fire station in Ipswich the traumatised tot was back in the arms of a very relieved Miss Chapman within half an hour.

And today the 29-year-old, of Lindsey Road, Stowmarket has praised the firefighters who rescued her son.

“They did a really great job,” she said. “I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

Miss Chapman was visiting a friend in Oulton Road when the accident happened.

She had put Sebastian back into his car seat and thrown her keys on the drivers seat so as not to lose them.

“I strapped him in,” the nurse, who is on maternity leave added. “But when I went to get in the car was locked. I didn’t know what to do, he was asleep so my friend quickly called the fire brigade.

“But he started to wake up, it was horrible. I couldn’t look him in the eyes, he looked terrified.”

Within minutes the crew were at the scene, using their tools to break into the car and rescue Sebastian.

Miss Chapman, whose fiance Sergeant Karl Spicer is currently serving with the army air corps in Afghanistan, added: “I know it was only a matter of minutes but it felt like forever.

“I am so grateful to the crew for getting him out so quickly and safely.

“Sebby was crying his eyes out but was absolutely fine as soon as they got him out and I had him back in my arms.”

Group manager and district commander for Ipswich Dave Pederson of the fire brigade said there is no specialist equipment for the job.

He said fire crews use tools and bits and pieces they have found useful over the years.

“The type and age of the car determines what we can use.

“Newer cars are much harder to break into whereas older cars are much easier.

“It is one of those situations where we will not leave someone in distress, we won’t rest until we have freed someone locked in their cars.

“Over the years we have gathered a whole host of tools we have found useful when breaking into locked cars.

“It is just a case of finding the right one for the job in hand.”

n Have you been through a similar ordeal? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk