A group of South Wales Firefighters proved that they are a cut above the rest after winning the best Crash Rescue and Rope Rescue teams in the UK at the 2012 National Rescue Challenge, hosted this year by Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue.

Rescue teams from across the country headed to Lincoln last weekend to hone their skills in the 2012 National Rescue Challenge - the country’s biggest and most prestigious Firefighter event.

The national rescue event seen teams from 40 different Fire and Rescue Services across the country, compete in a series of simulated rescues designed to test their skills to the limit. Over the two days, the teams were challenged to save casualties in a range of mock incidents as many members of the public watched all the action.

The main challenge involved 50 teams competing to rescue one causality from a car crash scene scenario in 20 minutes and then two casualties from a car crash in 30 minutes. A number of obstacles, such as other vehicles, lampposts and concrete blocks were incorporated into the scenario to make the extrication even more challenging.

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service (SWFRS) Bridgend Extrication Team beat off stiff competition and achieved a clean sweep in all rescue elements of the challenge.

Allyn Hosey, Phil May and Andrew Morgan won best Technical Extrication Team. Roger Magan and Mark Sanderson were awarded Best Medical Extrication Team and Shaun Moody was presented with best team leader.

This was the first time all three elements have been won by an individual team at the UK challenge and it is the second time in seven years that the South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Bridgend Extrication Team has been crowned UK champions.

Team Leader, Station Manager Shaun Moody, SWFRS talking about the event and the excellent result by the Bridgend Extrication Team said;

“It was a total team performance - the extrication scenarios are the kind of situations that Firefighters are likely to come across in their day-to-day to role, so training for those situations is a regular part of what we do. The team is very enthusiastic and we have put in a lot of extra practice to perfect our skills so we can proudly fly the flag for Wales”.

The rope rescue team from Malpas Fire and Technical Rescue Unit where also crowned UK champions. Over the two days of competition the team undertook four simulated rope rescue scenarios with two lasting up to forty five minutes. The Team achieved first place overall with the best rope medic award going to Chris Jones and the best Rope Team leader going to Raz Prince who stated;

“Competing at the National Rescue Challenge gives us a valuable opportunity to learn new skills and techniques and to share best practice with the other teams.”

Councillor Tudor Davies, the Chairman of South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority said ‘I would like to pass on my sincere congratulations to both the Road Traffic Collision and Rope Rescue teams for their excellent achievements during the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation challenges held in Lincoln over the weekend, first in both competitions is a fantastic achievement.

Assistant Chief Fire Officer Andy Thomas also stated “The team’s dedication and hard work over several years has culminated with these prestigious awards. It also raises the rescue and casualty care standards across Wales and the United Kingdom and shows South Wales Fire and Rescue Service as a world leader in developing these standards”.