Category: OTHERS

Cliff Rescue (2012)



Cliff Rescue (2012): In this series of photographs we see how a minor cliff rescue operation is carried out by the Coastguard to rescue a small dog.



HF54 JPJ On receiving the 999 call for help, a Coastguard Nissan Navara makes its way to the scene using blue flashing lights.



A look at the side of the 4×4 as it parks up at the foot of the cliffs.



On the roof is a water rescue craft and inside is rope rescue equipment.



The single crew member climbs out and begins to appraise the situation.



Powerful binoculars are used to try and locate the dog. The view from the bottom of the cliff is much better than trying to look down from the top. The dog’s owners are at the top of the cliff and have just been accompanied by another Coastguard rope rescue team.



The team at the top of the cliff set up a tripod that will act an a ground anchor for lowering a cliff rescue team member.



The descent begins with bystanders keeping well clear of the winch area.



The rescuer makes his way 40 feet down the cliff but is still not near the dog.



The ground crew are in radio contact with the clifftop crew and help direct the abseil.



Behind a small hill, part way down the cliff, the rescuer picks up the dog and places it inside a red waterproof bag ready for hoisting. Due to the unpredictability of animals in this situation, it is completely enclosed in the bag with a small gap left for breathing.



One of the coastguard crew signals as the final part of the ascent is made.



The rescue is complete and the ecstatic owner is reunited with her errant pooch.

OE56 JPX This Airwave emergency response Land Rover Defender is…



OE56 JPX This Airwave emergency response Land Rover Defender is seen here on standby. The black bag on the roof is removed to reveal a telescopic antenna. It also carries ‘lossy’ cabling that can be run down a tunnel and used as a repeater. This means that the emergency services’ radios can work anywhere underground if the cable is reasonably close by.

X999 PML A Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 GS in black that is used by…



X999 PML A Land Rover Discovery 4 SDV6 GS in black that is used by MARS (Mercia Accident Rescue Service). It carries a personalised plate of 999 and the company’s initials.



The side view of the Land Rover showing the MARS logo and supported by Prometheus Medical Ltd.



The rear view of the Land Rover that covers Hertfordshire and Worcestershire.

Closest to the camera is St Oswald, a fisheries patrol vessel based in North…



Closest to the camera is St Oswald, a fisheries patrol vessel based in North Shields. It carries a fast rigid inflatable boat to quickly approach fishing boats and climb aboard for inspections.

Moored alongside it is a Royal Navy vessel HMS Example, a patrol and training vessel attached to the Northumbria University Royal Naval Unit. HMS Example is part of the 1st Patrol Boat Squadron (1PBS).



14576 This Land Rover Defender is used by the Civil Defence service on the …



14576 This Land Rover Defender is used by the Civil Defence service on the island of Guernsey. On the roof is an amber light bar, a green rotating beacon and a white searchlight. Green flashing beacons are permitted on Guernsey for all voluntary emergency services when responding to calls, including when travelling to their base for a call out.

This red Massey-Ferguson 240 is used as an emergency doctor vehicle on the …



This red Massey-Ferguson 240 is used as an emergency doctor vehicle on the small Channel Island of Sark. Notice the ‘doctor’ sign on the sun visor and the LED flashing lights on the windscreen.



The rear view. The rear plate reads ‘doctor’ as it is normal to have the owner’s name shown in place of any official registration plate system on the island. The red box is the patient transportation system! It consists of one seat and a storage box. It is lifted off the ground when the tractor is in motion. The cab only has one seat so this bespoke box is essential to transport patients.



Here is the vehicle in use on a misty day showing the red and blue flashing lights.

HG56 LNY This Land Rover Defender is used by the RNLI to drive …



HG56 LNY This Land Rover Defender is used by the RNLI to drive team members to the nearby lifeboat and to tow smaller craft. It is seen here outside the base in Larne. Notice the additions of a front winch (covered), two spotlights and a tow hook on the front.



The rear view of the Land Rover. It has two further spotlights on the rear and carries no high visibility markings.

J25190 This Mitsubishi L200 is used on the beaches of Jersey by the RNLI …



J25190 This Mitsubishi L200 is used on the beaches of Jersey by the RNLI as a lifeguard vehicle.



The car tows this jetski that is used to reach swimmers or surfers in trouble. The yellow float attached to the rear is for rescuees to pull themselves onto for a lift back to land.



The rear view as the car surveys the sea. As the tide ebbs and flows, the car moves to stay near the water’s edge.



In this shot, the same L200 demonstrates its 4×4 capabilities by driving through shallow water to the bemusement of two surfers.

11785, 11784 In this action shot, two motorbikes are escorting a large load…



11785, 11784 In this action shot, two motorbikes are escorting a large load using red flashing lights. They are both Honda Deuvilles belonging to Guernsey Outriders (a division of St Peter Port Service Ltd) who have a contract with the Guernsey government to provide vehicle escort services.



A closer look at one of the escort motorbikes. The company operate three motorbikes and a marked-up van. All use red flashing lights all-round.



The rear view. The riders are all special constables, trained in the specific role they carry out only. This gives them the power to direct traffic on Guernsey narrow winding roads.



The pair of bikes ready to face another day’s service.

12452 A look at one of Guernsey Outriders’ Honda Deuvilles. Red flashing …



12452 A look at one of Guernsey Outriders’ Honda Deuvilles. Red flashing lights were chosen as the police weren’t keen on blues being used and ambers would not have the desired impact to stop oncoming traffic quickly. A change in law was implemented to make the front-facing red flashing lights legal.



The rear view, showing the high visibility jacket marked with ‘Special Constable’.

G-CIAS Channel Islands Air Search operate this 1982 Islander aircraft …



G-CIAS Channel Islands Air Search operate this 1982 Islander aircraft for Search and Rescue work (with personalised registration). CIAS is a 24/7 charity that assists in saving lives at sea and is supported entirely by volunteers. The Channel Islands are a distance away from government-funded French and English rescue helicopters and so created their own service in 1980.



The aircraft in its purpose built hanger on Guernsey. It was built in 1982 and came to the service in 1992 with many modifications made. These include extended nose housing for radar, extended wing tips and long range fuel tanks.



Another view of G-CIAS ready for action. With callsign ‘Airsearch One’, it can travel at up to 140 knots and can stay in the air for up to 4 hours 30 minutes. It carries out sea and land searches, including mainland France and England.



The rear view of the aircraft called Lions’ Pride. It can take off with just 100m visibility and the time from call to airborne is about 25 minutes. This includes the time taken for the volunteers to drive to the hanger – a journey that is helped by the use of green flashing lights on their private cars.



The Forward Looking Infa Red (FLIR) pod shown cost £200,000 to purchase and was a massive sum to pay out for a small charitable organisation. However the benefits of having this save lives.



The underside of the aircraft as seen from the sea. The charity use the tag line ‘The Lifeboats’ Eyes in the Sky’.



A close look at the four speakers used as a public address system or siren.



Inside the aircraft. This compact space is for five team members: a pilot, a search director and observers. There is no capability to rescue or transport casualties.



The rear observer seats. The windows are bulged outwards to allow the observers to look straight down. A small chute at the bottom of the photograph allows sea flares to be placed on the sea as markers. Behind the rear seats is an inflatable life raft that can the pushed out of the aircraft to be used by up to 11 people in the sea.



In this staged photograph, G-CIAS is in flight, joined by the Channel Islands’ other rescue services.