Rwanda National Police

The Rwanda National Police (RNP) Fire and Rescue Brigade (FRB) unit in Rubavu District was on Thursday, July 15, pressed into service to rescue a man stuck in a tree after sustaining a leg fracture.

Eric Antoine Imanizibose, 30, had climbed a tree of about 15-metre tall in Makoro Village, Nyarushyamba Cell, Nyakiriba Sector of Rubavu District to collect firewood when a tree branch that supported him broke-off.

?Imanizibose was alone when he climbed the tree almost to its top to cut dry branches for firewood. Unfortunately, he stepped on a weak branch which broke off. As he was falling, he was trapped by other tree branches and broke his leg,? said Chief Inspector of Police (CIP) Bonaventure Twizere Karekezi, the Police spokesperson for the Western region.

He added: ?It was until people, who were passing by saw him stuck up in the tree and calling help, they called the Police rescue unit in Rubavu?about 15 kilometres away from the scene?to save him. Rescue officers rushed to the scene, brought him down and rushed him to the nearest Nyakiriba health center for medical care,? said CIP Karekezi.

He advised the public to always avoid such life-threatening risks and to ?put safety first? in whatever they do.