Rescuers remove Mr Darcy from his place in the lake. Photo: Kinder MRT
Rescuers had to wade into ankle-deep water to help a romantic character from his place in the middle of a lake.
The 12ft-high sculpture of Jane Austen’s hero Mr Darcy was removed yesterday by team members from the lake in front of the National Trust’s historic house at Lyme Park in Cheshire.
The charity called in Kinder and Glossop Mountain Rescue Teams and Cheshire Search and Rescue to take the figure from the ornamental lake.
The sculpture was installed last year to mark the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice, and featured the ‘wet shirt’ look modelled by Colin Firth in the BBC’s 1995 adaptation of the novel.
Darren Wallis from Kinder team, who was involved in the ‘rescue’ of Fitzwilliam Darcy, said: “The water turned out to be just about ankle depth and the Mr Darcy was held down by about 14 concrete blocks which were easily removed before dismantling the scaffold frame and floating him about 10m to the shore.”
The National Trust site, at Disley on the edge of the Peak District, was used as the setting for the BBC production. The grade-one listed building dates largely from the 16th century.
Hroberts
19 March 2014This article is missing an important information, why was it removed?
Sheepy
19 March 2014I hope they made a donation or you billed them!
Phil H
19 March 2014"wade into ankle-deep water" Surely an oxymoron?
Boggins
19 March 2014Did the sculpture survive the rescue?
Mr Grumpy
21 March 2014Good to see all that expensive training and equipment hasn't gone to waste.
mybigfatcornishlife
23 March 2014Where's he going ?
Truther
23 March 2014Amazes me that a charity that makes millions every year still expects to use charities to save them the expense. I hope they donated a nice cheque to Kinder and Glossop Mountain Rescue Teams and Cheshire Search and Rescue.
Jo
24 March 2014So where in England will the statue be displayed henceforth? I am planning to visit Lyme Park later in the year (yes, because of P+P!) and am actually glad the statue will be gone from the lake, so that I can see the place as how it was in the BBC drama. However, I would still like to see this statue of Colin Firth in his best role ever :)
Bob
25 March 2014This was a good opportunity for the three teams to work together and provided a excellent exercise/PR opportunity. Thanks to Cheshire SAR for sharing this with the PDMRO teams.
The staff at Lyme Park could have done the job themselves but saw a good PR angle for all involved. Its all about charities working together. Good press for the national trust and for the SAR and MR teams.
It was a pleasure working with everyone.
The statue is hoping to end its days in Australia.
dee
30 June 2014I might be showing my ignorance here. how did that statue end up in the lake anyway? other then "someone put it there".