A West firefighter has stormed to victory once again to be crowned the world's toughest firefighter in a global competition that is the biggest sporting event outside the Olympics.
Suzanne Enghed will be back at work today, fighting fires and rescuing people in Cheltenham, but will be proudly showing off the two gold medals she won at the World Firefighter Games in Sydney. But the glass trophy she won for being crowned the world's toughest in the overall competition might have to stay at home - she rides a bike to work and it is a little too fragile to make the journey.
But there is nothing fragile about Suzanne, who completed an eye-watering series of firefighter-related tasks in under 12 minutes, blitzing the field of female firefighters, who were all the toughest, strongest and quickest in their respective nations.
The tasks combined physical strength - carrying three rolled up hoses over 90 metres and then unrolling and connecting them - with agility. The most daunting was clambering over a three-metre high wall in full firefighting gear, including breathing apparatus and hefty boots.
After this, she had to haul an 80kg dummy 90 metres, and then scale a ladder up an 8.5 metre tower, having dragged the ladders there, of course.
"I competed on the Tuesday and on the Monday I went to the Olympic stadium where it was being held and watched others compete," said Suzanne.
"I was a bit worried because almost all of those who were doing it were dropping out at that stage and not completing the course.
"I realised I'd have to be a bit clever and not go flat out in the first part and save myself for the last minute. It was really like a sprint because in between each of the four parts you only got a five-minute rest, which was enough time to take your tunic off and try to cool down. It was no time at all really, and it was very, very hard," she added.
Suzanne became a local celebrity in 2010 when she first won the crown of the world's toughest female firefighter, after taking gold in South Korea. This year she again won her age category - 29-34 year olds - and the overall title.
"The games ran from Monday to Friday and I really had no idea how I'd done at all, because each day other people competed. I saw some of the other girls from other countries but I didn't know until the last day that I'd won anything," she said.
"It was such a relief because I think there was a bit more pressure on me this time. Everyone had been so supportive and I had a bit of sponsorship this time to help me, so it was great to be able to do it for all the people. It was a relief to not let anyone down.
"I'm looking forward to going back to work. It'll be great to see the guys again, because I had a bit of time away before the Games to train. It'll be nice to get back to work," she added.
FIREFIGHTING GAMES While Suzanne was competing in the ultimate test of firefighting toughness, some of her colleagues around the world were taking it rather more easily. For among the more typical shows of strength and agility, such as tug-of-war, climbing, arm wrestling and rowing are some more sedate activities.
Billiards and darts lead the way, with lawn bowls also an option. And for those who can stand the heat, there's also a firehouse cook-off. And for those hoping to capture the moment for posterity, there are sure to be photographers waiting to hear if they've won the photo shootout.
90m The distance over which Suzanne had to carry an 80kg dummy
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