Swiftwater & Flood Rescue

Swaledale MRT has two major upland rivers running through its area of operation.  Both the Swale and the Ure plus their tributaries have steep gradients and react very quickly to rainfall making them potentially very hazardous.  The Swale has been known to rise 3 metres in just 20 minutes.

In 2004 SMRT sort specialist training to ensure the safety of its team members whilst searching near to fast flowing water.  Initially five team members gained the internationally recognised Swiftwater Rescue Technician (SRT) qualification.  In 2008 this number was increased to ten due to the increased number of water related incidents attended by the team.

Additionally, as a minimum all team members are provided with swiftwater and flood awareness training in order to maintain their safety when operating close to the moving water environment.  Twenty-two members are also trained and equipped to carryout bank based and wading rescues in support of the in-water SRT's. 

In recent years the team has deployed its highly skilled water rescue unit to regional flood incidents in across NOrth Yorkshire and most recently Cumbria in November 2009.  These incidents highlighted the need for additional specialist river and flood rescue equipment.  Following a substanitial grant from LEADER in early 2010 the team was able acquire river and flood rescue boats, technical water rescue aids, stretcher and additional personal protective equipment.

The LEADER grant will allowed the teams in-house IRIA instructor to increase the number of trained and fully equipped SRT's from ten to twenty during 2010. 

Each of our SRT's and bankside operators are fully equipped with all the necessary specialist personal protective equipment including personal floatation device (PFD), helmet, drysuit, throwline, knife etc.  This personal equipment is supplemented by advanced technical rope access equipment that allows the team to access and rescue casualties from the often steep or vertical river banks.

Many thanks to our friends at RigSystems for their assistance with choice and provision of specialist river rescue equipment.