A fire fighter whose first job was rescuing a pigeon has retired after 28 years service.

Gary Wix, 54, of Epping Fire Station, celebrated the end of his career alongside 50 crew members, family and friends at the station in Clarks Lane, Epping, yesterday evening.

The father-of-six, who was born and raised in Epping, left the role which he started in 1987 after recovering from a heart bypass as a result of a heart attack while putting out an industrial fire in Ongar in 2006.

Mr Wix, who said his most memorable jobs include five plane crashes, a car explosion and a pigeon stuck between two chimneys, said he is “gutted” to be leaving.

Epping Forest Guardian:

The Epping Fire Fighters all gathered to say goodbye to Mr Wix yesterday evening.

He said: “this job is nothing like any other, you never known what you are going to be called out to.

“The crew here are like a second family so I am gutted to be leaving them.

“I have been to thousands of jobs and I really have loved serving the area.

“The most rewarding thing about being a fireman is helping people and making a difference.

“Now I am retiring I think I will take a little time to relax and I haven’t made any other plans.

“I really will miss working here, it has been such a rewarding career and I wouldn’t change it for the world.”