Author Topic: Rescue Services  (Read 95670 times)

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Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #15 on: June 22, 2015, 06:35:41 pm »
RAF Valley bids emotional farewell to Search and Rescue service in special civic ceremony

An Assembly Member has called on private operators to match the service that RAF Valley search and rescue crews have given the region over the past 60 years.

Rhun ap Iorwerth, Ynys Mon AM, was speaking at an emotional civic farewell at the Anglesey base attended by Mayors, councillors and mountain rescue team volunteers.
After a tour by C Flight crew, Mr ap Iorwerth said it was a “shame to be losing a part of our heritage” as C Flight 22 Squadron prepares to hand over rescue missions to Bristow Helicopters Ltd.
The service’s base of operations region will also move from RAF Valley on Anglesey to Caernarfon Airport at Dinas Dinlle on July 1.
Mr ap Iorweth said: “These are quite ageing aircraft but they have stood the test of time very well.
“We’re told that the new aircraft are better, they’re more powerful. And of course many of the crews that will be crewing the aircraft out of Caernarfon will be the same crews that have been successfully crewing these aircraft out of Valley.”
But he added: “It is a real shame that we are losing this part of our heritage here on Anglesey. I was brought up between RAF Valley and the mountains and to have the yellow Wessexes and then the Sea Kings flying over was part of my upbringing.”

In April, the latest 22 Squadron crews marked the base’s 10,000th rescue since Search and Rescue missions began in September 1955.
Mr ap Iorwerth added: “It’s a shame in a way that there had to be privatisation.
“But at the end of the day it’s the service we’ll be looking at, and making sure that in very capable hands, with many of the staff from RAF Valley, the new service is just as effective as this one.”

Earlier on Friday, Flight Sergeant Dickie Myers, reflected on completing 230 rescues in three and a half years from RAF Valley.
He remembers lifting ten victims to safety during the Borth caravan site flooding in June 2012. On another occasion he airlifted a man having an epileptic fit to Ysbyty Gwynedd in heavy cloud.
He added: “People say we’re courageous but I think we just fall back on the training we’ve had.”

After July 1, Sgt Myers will head to the Falklands to continue being a winchman for the following nine months.
But he will have fond memories of RAF Valley.
“There is some sadness but it has been a fantastic part of my life.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and my family and I have enjoyed being part of the SAR (Search and Rescue) force community.”

MORE AND PHOTOS....http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/watch-raf-valley-bids-emotional-9501662


    ££$  $thanx$     $walesflag$                                                    $good$  $good$  $good$ $good$             

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #16 on: June 23, 2015, 11:50:58 am »
I saw the new SAR chopper over the Oval last night.................

RNLI EXERCISE: Llandudno RNLI crews have carried out their first exercise with one of the new civilian-operated Coastguard search and rescue helicopters yesterday.refDP


Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #17 on: June 23, 2015, 05:01:30 pm »
Llandudno lifeboat got to grips with the new operating procedures of the Sikorsky S-92 last night, which, with its distinctive red and white livery, will replace the yellow Sea Kings of C-flight 22Sqn RAF Valley from July 1 REFDP

Offline Ian

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #18 on: June 23, 2015, 05:33:39 pm »
If I read the blurb correctly, the new choppers are being stationed in Cardiff. Even by chopper that's a fair way from where most climbing casualties occur.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.  ― Michel de Montaigne

Si hoc legere scis, nimis eruditionis habes.

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #19 on: June 23, 2015, 05:47:34 pm »
If I read the blurb correctly, the new choppers are being stationed in Cardiff. Even by chopper that's a fair way from where most climbing casualties occur.
Moved to Caernarfon Ian................. $good$

First glimpse of new £7m search and rescue base
artist's impression of how the new hanger at Caernarfon will look

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #20 on: June 23, 2015, 07:09:54 pm »

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #21 on: June 29, 2015, 09:17:46 pm »
End of an era for RAF Valley search and rescue service captured in S4C documentary

As the RAF’s 22 Squadron rescue service comes to an end after operating for more than half a century from its base in Valley on Anglesey, S4C will document the end of its partnership with Britain’s busiest mountain rescue team.

In SOS Yr Wyddfa: Newyddion Arbennig (SOS Snowdon: Special News) on Wednesday we see Llanberis mountain rescue team working with 22 Squadron for the final time.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/whats-on/film-news/end-era-raf-valley-search-9526539

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA/MOUNTAIN RESCUE...2015
« Reply #22 on: July 01, 2015, 03:18:40 pm »
Voluntary mountain rescue service 'unsustainable' says Assembly Member

Voluntary mountain rescue is unsustainable because of increased pressure on the free service, a North Wales Assembly Member has warned.

Alun Ffred Jones was speaking as search and rescue at RAF Valley ends today and US private company Bristow takes over.
He said: “The police get paid, the ambulance gets paid, Bristow gets paid, but the volunteers in the Mountain Rescue Teams don’t get paid and they are the ones who do the hard work and often the dangerous work.
“It’s hard to think that they can cope with any more pressure as more and more people come to our mountains, several of them not properly prepared and they get into trouble and they expect volunteers to get out of their beds in the middle of the night to rescue them.
“I don’t know how long this can continue.”

                                       'No respect for the mountain'
Mr Jones added: “In the early days when the mountain rescue team in Llanberis was established it was mountaineers and walkers we were helping and we could empathise with them and that’s why the service was free but as the emphasis has changed and the people who turn out are ill-prepared, have no respect for the mountain or sympathy with the mountain then we too are losing our sympathy with them.”

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/voluntary-mountain-rescue-service-unsustainable-9563410

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #23 on: July 01, 2015, 05:58:26 pm »
That's it, it's handover day...............I saw the new chopper over Llandudno today, sounds "bigger".....

End of an era at RAF Valley as search and rescue service moves to Caernarfon Airport

 Just after 7.30am this morning, a Sea King helicopter took off from RAF Valley and made one last low-level flight before the aircraft, callsign Rescue 122, landed back at base at 9am for the short handover ceremony.
Squadron Leader Rob Hurcomb, Officer Commanding, C Flight, 22 Squadron, accompanied by his fellow duty crew members, switched off the rotor blades for the last time as the crews stood down and officially handed over responsibility for search and rescue to the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency.

http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/end-era-raf-valley-search-9564178

Offline DaveR

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #24 on: July 02, 2015, 10:25:11 am »
That's it, it's handover day...............I saw the new chopper over Llandudno today, sounds "bigger".....
I saw the new helicopter in an exercise with the Lifeboat the other day out in the Bay. The Sikorsky is an impressive beast, really stirred up the spray as it hovered low over the waves.

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015 RNLI
« Reply #25 on: July 04, 2015, 07:17:23 pm »
LLANDUDNO LIFEBOAT: Llandudno's RNLI inshore lifeboat was called out at 12.05pm today to go to the assistance of a boat which had suffered engine failure off Raynes jetty, Llanddulas. A strong offshore breeze was blowing at the scene.

The occupant of the boat, a local man on an angling trip had anchored his craft to await help after calling the Coastguard on his mobile.

Taken by road to Rhos-on-Sea, the lifeboat launched at 1225, reaching the disabled and now drifting craft shortly afterwards. The RNLI crew quickly took the boat in tow and brought it safely ashore at Porth Eirias, its occupant unharmed.refDP

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015 RNLI
« Reply #26 on: July 05, 2015, 02:13:30 pm »
Teenager in Llandudno injured tombstoning near Great Orme
A teenager was taken to hospital after he was injured tombstoning near Llandudno’s Great Orme.

The 15-year-old, who is believed to be from Llandudno Junction, hurt his ankle when he landed on a rock in the Pigeons Cave area at around 7pm yesterday (July 4).
He had to be pulled out of the water onto an area of shingle beach by his friends, who alerted the emergency services.
Holyhead Coastguard was called and scrambled Llandudno RNLI inshore lifeboat, Llandudno coastguard and an ambulance to the scene.

A spokesman for the Llandudno Lifeboat said: “Launching at 7.15pm, the lifeboat, carrying first-aid materials and a stretcher arrived at the spot a few minutes later to find coastguards had started to administer first aid to the casualty on the shingle.
“With evacuation by sea clearly the best option, once the teenager’s condition had been stabilised he was transferred by the RNLI crew and coastguards into the lifeboat, which then ferried him to Llandudno’s north shore slipway where an ambulance was waiting to transfer him to hospital.
“The lifeboat returned to station by 8.15pm.”

The teenager was one of a group who were tombstoning in the Pigeons Cave area below the Marine Drive area of the town.
The craze includes jumping into the water from cliffs, piers and other structures.
But since 2004, HM Coastguard says it has dealt with more than 200 incidents relating to tombstoning, with 70 injuries and 20 deaths.
The agency warns that water depth “can alter with the tide”, and that water “may be shallower than it seems”.
It said submerged objects like rocks may also not be visible, and can cause serious injury.
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/teenager-llandudno-injured-tombstoning-near-9590074

Offline norman08

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015
« Reply #27 on: July 05, 2015, 06:37:25 pm »
Why did the daily post have picture of the west shore side when pigeons cave is on the north side ,can,t do a decent job of a story .

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015 RNLI
« Reply #28 on: July 09, 2015, 12:34:34 pm »
I found this link, reading a RNLI report, very interesting and a bit scary, try it......

http://www.respectthewater.com/coldwatershock/

Offline SteveH

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Re: AIR/SEA RESCUE...2015 RNLI
« Reply #29 on: July 11, 2015, 01:20:33 pm »
I found this link, reading a RNLI report, very interesting and a bit scary, try it......
http://www.respectthewater.com/coldwatershock/
COASTAL FATALITIES: Eight people lost their lives in North Wales waters last year.

Figures released by the RNLI show 19 people died around Wales’ coast with a further 84 people narrowly surviving.
The figures are revealed as the RNLI launches its 2015 national drowning prevention campaign, Respect the Water.
Of the 89 people who died over the past five years, over half (57%) were taking part in activities like walking, running, climbing and boating and were, therefore, unlikely to have intended to be in the water.

Over the past five years, slips and falls while walking and running contributed to the most coastal deaths in Wales, accounting for 31% (28).
Swimming, jumping in and general leisure use accounted for 25% (22) of the coastal deaths in Wales over the five-year period; angling 8% (7), and commercial use 7% (6).

Men are far more prone to getting into danger accounting for almost 74% of the deaths over the five-year period.