The RAC's fleet of breakdown patrols have their hands full attending vehicle breakdowns across the country but one of its technicians recently took time away from the usual day job to come to the rescue at a very different type of emergency.
RAC technician John Walshe has been dubbed a 'hero' after helping to free a six-year-old boy who had got his head stuck between metal railings while playing with friends in a park near Dublin last week.
Here's the tool - typically used to get stricken motors back on the road - that John deployed to liberate the boy from his upsetting predicament.
Six-year-old Isaac was said to be enjoying the summer holidays playing with friends at the People's Park south of Dún Laoghaire town before he managed to get himself trapped between two railings in a metal fence.
After his family had made several unsuccessful attempts to dislodge Isaac's head, a woman who was helping his mum phoned the local fire brigade.
At this point, RAC patrol John Walshe was driving past and noticed Isaac and his family in distress.
After pulling over to see if everything was okay, John, who covers Dublin and the surrounding areas, immediately knew which tool in the back of his van could be used to free Isaac.
Rushing to his breakdown vehicle, he returned with a jack - typically reserved for raising a car at the roadside to fix a puncture or replace a wheel - to widen the fence enough for Isaac to pull his head out in seconds.
Isaac's mum Vicky has described John as a hero.
'We couldn't be more grateful to John who is now classed as a true hero by Isaac and his relieved friends and family,' she said.
'I'm sure John wasn't expecting to use his recovery expertise to help a six-year-old boy last week!
'We were overwhelmed with the support from the local community and kind passers-by who stopped to help, including the café owner and the kind woman who rang the fire brigade on our behalf.
'Most importantly, it's sheer luck that John was passing and stopped out of the kindness of his heart, freeing Isaac within minutes.'
John said: 'I was driving along the main road in Dún Laoghaire when I saw poor Isaac in floods of tears, distressed because his head was stuck.
'After stopping to make sure he was okay, I widened the railings using the jack, which very quickly released him.
'The fire brigade arrived just after me and gave Isaac the all-clear. When I left, he was in much brighter spirits and was sure enjoying an ice cream cone!'
