The Fire Officer was a part of the emergency crews who converged on Coronation Street on a stormy night in October 2021 after heavy rains, combined with an untreated sinkhole in the back garden of No.8, caused a sewer collapse which swallowed up Jenny Connor. Her estranged husband Johnny Connor lowered himself down to rescue her but both found themselves trapped in the rushing waters.
The officer had to deal with a panicking and short-tempered David and Shona Platt who demanded he take immediate action but he had to point out to them that a specialised urban rescue team was needed, and while they were on the way his men would be ascertaining all of the access points ready for their arrival. The two trapped people managed to make their way to an outlet near to Viaduct Street but the manhole was sealed shut and the general noise above swamped out their cries for help. Eventually, sinkhole engineer Leo Thompkins heard their calls and the firemen rushed to try and release the manhole cover. Shona took matters into her own hands and went down a nearby open cover with a length of rope, hoping to lead the two to safety through a water-filled sewer. She managed to get Jenny out, but Johnny succumbed to the cold and died before he could be brought to the surface.