Team efforts will improve lifesavers' water rescues
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EMERGENCY services joined forces as they took part in a large-scale training exercise.
Volunteer coastguards and firefighters, as well as the fire service’s water rescue team, took part in the exercise at Invermoriston recently.
HM Coastguard’s senior coastal operations officer Martin Hier says it will benefit both groups in the future.
“The aim was to get the Scottish fire service and HM coastguard rescue team working together in a live water rescue situation,” he said.
“Both organisations train their personnel to undertake water rescue but we do things slightly differently, so it is always good to see how theother operates in challenging conditions.
“Exercises like this help make all the rescue services work more effectively together.
“We had live actors and dummies in various challenging points in the river for the teams to recover.
“We had planned for our coastguard rescue helicopter based at Inverness to also be involved but they had an extremely busy day on Sunday.
“We will however arrange another date so our colleagues in the fire service can get a briefing on their capability.
“Involved in the exercise were the coastguard rescue team from Inverness along with the full-time water rescue team and watch officers from Inverness and retained firefighters from Fort Augustus, Foyers and Drumnadrochit.”
Mr Hier says the organisation is always looking for volunteers and urged those interested to get in touch.
“We are looking for more people to join our coastguard teams,” he said.
“Anyone interested should get in touch via our Facebook page HM Coastguard – Highland or email us at Area2@mcga.gov.uk."
