Multi-agency water rescue exercise takes place in Long Eaton

A multi-agency water rescue exercise took place on Wednesday 24 January at Spring Lakes Watersports and Leisure Centre in Long Eaton.

Organised by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, crews from Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, charity Watersafe UK, and Nottinghamshire Police diving team joined in the exercise.

In the scenario, seven people had fallen into the water and needed to be rescued.

Throughout the course of the exercise there were four boats deployed into the water and involvement of Nottinghamshire's Command Support Unit. 

The exercise used dummy casualties and live causalities to add realism. 

Exercise training like this allows crews to test their skills outside of a real-life situation and understand how different agencies would work together in an emergency scenario.

Station Manager Chris Navin, of Highfields Fire Station, said: "I want to thank all the crews and our partners involved in the exercise today, especially Crew Manager Jack Smith for organising the event.

"It's so important for us to have opportunities to work across different fire services and partner agencies outside an emergency situation so that we are familiar with sites and how each other work. We can then be best prepared should the worst ever happen and they need to be put into reality."