ResQcraft to the rescue in Cockermouth
The recent and catastrophic Cockermouth floods in the UK suggest we have entered a new climactic era. Flooding caused by sudden rainstorms (let alone by rising sea levels) means that rescue services now need effective new ways of rescuing flood victims.
When the floods hit Cockermouth, Leyland UK based Specialised Inflatable Technology Ltd (SIT) assisted the Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) at short notice, to enable their new inflatable rescue craft to be deployed to assist in the rescue operation. After MFRS was scrambled to assist with house to house rescues it desperately needed seaworthy inflatable craft, and fast. Luckily, MFRS already had a new
ResQcraft
from SIT, with another due to be delivered for testing. SIT went into overdrive and completed the second
ResQcraft
within just 12 hours. Testing turned into real live rescuing as MFRS set about saving people trapped in their homes. The new
ResQcraft
, supplied to MFRS with 40hp outboard motors, can carry up to 8 victims and made several successful rescues.
John Lloyd Young, boat instructor and front line fire fighter, said the SIT designed and built ResQcraft, ‘performed extremely well in testing conditions. They were just what we needed and a number of people were rescued from their homes. The main high street was under several feet of water and so we were able to deploy the engines too. One of the boats was ordered for trial purposes and these conditions certainly put it to the test! The results, excellent performance all round.’
SIT produces a range of rescue inflatables designed for the Emergency and Rescue Services. These include sleds, paths, rafts, boats and air jacks that have all been developed to meet the requirements of rescuers in the current climate of high flood risks, with the concurrent need to reach casualties in the fastest possible time.
SIT’s sister company MST (Marine Specialised Technology Ltd) designs and builds larger RIBs. Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service recently took delivery of a new 10.5m MST RIB which operates out of Liverpool.
