Rescuing capsized kayakers from the fast-flowing clutches of the River Spey formed the basis of a large-scale emergency services exercise.
Saturday, October 5 saw fire engines from Fochabers, Buckie, Elgin and Aberdeen joined by Coastguard teams and local fishers rush to the Cumberland Pool area of the river just outside Fochabers.
It followed a simulated report from two fishers in the area of two kayaks capsizing.
Rescuers – numbering around 50 – were also told they could be looking for up to seven people missing from the upturned boats.
Fochabers fire station Crew Commander Dave Crawford said the exercise was a good test of the participants’ skills.
He said: “The simulation followed very closely what would’ve happened in real life.
“Fochabers [fire engine] was the first to turn up and asked the ghillies and fishers where the two boats capsized.
“We assessed what resources were required and then we were joined by the [fire service] boat unit and Coastguard Rescue Teams and a search of the area got under way. We also had a drone available to us which helped identify areas where the casualties were quickly.
“However, we still had to get the right resources there.
“There were a total of seven casualties in all – two live ones and five strategically-placed dummies to simulate casualties who were unconscious. One of the unconscious casualties had had a cardiac arrest so the challenge was to get to them quickly and administer CPR.
“One of the live casualties was simulating disorientation after banging their head on the kayak, which was an added challenge.
“There were a lot of different challenges the teams had to face and it all went very well.”
Crew Commander Crawford went on to note the exercise was the culmination of a lot of hard work.
He added: “We started planning this back in February as it takes an awful lot of work to bring about.
“In order not to interfere with the fishing season we waited until it finished in September and held the exercise this month; we’re very grateful to Gordon Young from Fochabers Angling Club for his help. The stretch of water we used is their beat and they have a huge amount of expertise.
“It was a major logistical exercise brining everyone together.”
HM Coastguard Senior Coastal Operations Officer Colin Wood highlighted the importance of multi-agency rehearsals.
He continued: “It’s important for HM Coastguard to rehearse this kind of hazardous situation alongside fellow emergency services because we frequently attend incidents that require a multi-agency response.
“This water rescue training exercise is an opportunity to test our communications, co-ordination and shared situational awareness so that, if the worst happens, we can respond together swiftly and effectively.
“HM Coastguard has a statutory responsibility to co-ordinate incidents at sea and, locally, within the tidal waters of the River Spey. Taking part for HM Coastguard will be the Coastguard Rescue Teams from Burghead, Buckie and Portsoy.”
