Fire department Santa surprises sick children

Rescuers from the fire department surprised children in the Bautzen hospital on St. Nicholas Day. Dressed as St. Nicholas, a colleague abseiled down from the turntable ladder to the balcony of the children's ward in the morning, said city spokeswoman Josephine Brinkel. He was accompanied by a colleague in an angel costume.

The action was followed closely by the young patients. They received a gift of a cuddly toy and gingerbread from the costumed firefighters. "The children were very happy," said Brinkel.

In Chemnitz and Zwickau, too, fire department rescuers at height wanted to bring joy to sick children on St. Nicholas Day.