AN ELDERLY woman lay submerged under rising floodwaters, trapped under her chairlift and fearing for her life.

Her terrified daughter managed to raise the alarm during December's devastating flooding, prompting the start of a rescue operation involving soldiers from Blenheim Company, 2nd Battalion, Duke of Lancaster's Regiment.

The regiment traditionally recruits from Cumbria, and among those deployed to the city during the crisis was Carlisle's own Joe Greenwood.

The soldiers' task was to patrol the streets, warning people and evacuating residents from those worst-hit areas - with water levels continuing to rise in many streets.

Cpl Greenwood was sent to Petteril Street in the early hours of Sunday, December 6, where he met a woman who said her elderly mother was trapped in her house further down the street.

Assisted by Lance Corporal Harry Kenyon and Corporal Kyle Inglesfield they headed off to help.

Fearful for the woman's life, the men pushed the boundaries of their own safety, using Cpl Greenwood's local knowledge to find the house, where neighbours confirmed there was someone inside.

"Cpl Greenwood called out to her through the letterbox, to which she replied that she was ok," a spokesman for the Duke of Lancaster Regiments said.

"Cpl Greenwood peered through the letterbox and, to his horror, observed that the elderly lady was lying on the floor at the bottom of the stairs, with her head propped up against the bottom step, submerged up to her neck in water.

"She told them she was trapped under her stairlift and was unable to get to the door."

The Carlisle soldier noticed a lockbox beside the door, with a spare key inside. The trapped woman gave them the code and the men were able to rush in and rescue her.

Frail and cold and with the water levels still rising, she was unable to walk.

The army spokesman continued: "Again displaying initiative, they asked permission from the lady to construct a stretcher from her dining room table by removing the legs.

"Cpl Greenwood gave the lady his smock to keep her warm and the three soldiers then put her onto the dining room table and carried her out of the building.

"Cpl Inglesfield was sent ahead to warn the emergency services that an ambulance would be required.

"The remaining two men then carried her back to the rendezvous point, three streets away, often up to their chests in flood water."

The spokesman added: "The emergency services informed the soldiers the woman must have been submerged for a significant period of time and was suffering from hypothermia and shock.

"Shortly after the rescue the house where she had been trapped was in three feet of water throughout the bottom floor. Without the rescue the lady would surely have drowned."

Cpl Greenwood was among those honoured at a dazzling evening of glamour and fun to pay tribute to Cumbria’s unsung heroes.

The charities, individuals, schools and community groups, businesses, councils and emergency services who all kept the county moving last December were celebrated at a special gala event last night.

CN Group, supported by Sellafield Ltd and United Utilities, hosted the #SpiritofCumbria Awards at Garden @ Eden.

In addition to the representatives and people singled out for the emergency services and other organisations, more than 200 individual nominations had been received. These highlighted health workers, neighbours, supermarkets, children, soldiers, church officials and employees who had gone the extra mile in the wake of the floods.

That figure was whittled down to 25, who each received tickets to see Rod Stewart perform in Carlisle, and attended last night.

However, within those stories were some which stood out as deserving a special mention, and so a number of winners were invited on stage for an award.

Don’t miss the #SpiritofCumbria Awards supplement later in the week. See more also in Monday's News & Star.