COASTGUARD RESCUE
Photographs by Steve Dee
Foreword For most of us who volunteer for the coastguard service, the idea of being photographed isn’t something that we feel completely comfortable with. Most of us don’t court publicity, our main purpose is to provide an important public service. It was Steve’s idea of creating a photographic record of what the coastguard do which we felt was a good opportunity. Steve was able to capture this not only because of his photographic skills, but because he is adept at working quietly in the background. None of the photographs are posed, they are a true record of the way that volunteers work when no-one is watching. As a result, the images in this book provide an honest window on the tasks and exploits of the Newquay coastguard team. Dave Bulley Station Officer HM Coastguard, Newquay
Š Steve Dee, 2012 All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in Truro, Cornwall ISBN 978-0-12-345678-9
Coastguard Emergency Service On average there are 100 deaths and 4000 injuries around the British coastline each year and it falls to the Her Majesty’s Coastguard to coordinate the Coastguard Rescue Service to deal with these incidents. There are 362 coastguard rescue teams strategically placed around the coastline and they are made up of over 3,500 volunteers. These ordinary men and women give up their time to perform an extraordinary service to their local community in sometimes extremely hazardous conditions. There is a growing interest in the emergency services providers throughout the UK with such television programmes as the BBC’s ‘999’ and Channel 4’s ‘999 what’s your emergency’, giving the viewer a documentary style form of entertainment as it follows the men and women on duty. Coastguard Rescue is a photographic documentary of the Newquay team. The images, taken throughout the summer and autumn of 2012, show the volunteer coastguards engaged in exercise drills. They also illustrate the unique relationship and camaraderie born out of their reliance upon the courage and skills of fellow team members, working in what are often, lifethreatening situations.
Rope Rescue Work An exercise simulating a scenario where a member of the public has been cut off by the tide. A volunteer assesses safety at the top of the cliff prior to lowering a team member down the cliff face in an assisted descent.
Rope technicians prepare to haul their team member and the ‘casualty’ up the cliff face.
A simulation of rescuing a climber who has been injured by a fall.
In this scenario the team simulate a night search for a missing person who was last seen on the cliff path.
The casualty is found, and transferred from the coastguard to paramedics as the simulated rescue ends.
TO BE CONTINUED...
With thanks to the Newquay Coastguard team for their co-operation and help with the making of this book.