River Thames search & rescue exercise Operation Mudlark | Erith | DJI Mavic 3 | 08/06/2023

Описание: Gravesend RNLI has been working alongside HM Coastguard to organise a large multi-agency River Thames joint exercise named 'Operation Mudlark' at Erith Pier. The training exercise scenario will be to recover a person who’s entered the water and has become stuck in mud requiring urgent attention.

Other SAR partners attending the exercise on Thursday 8 June include National Police Air Service (NPAS), London Fire Brigade (Boat), South East Coast Ambulance Service (Joint Response Unit) and Kent Police.

Gravesend RNLI Thames Commander Liam Sidders said, 'Our RNLI Volunteers often trains with other agencies but not usually to this scale. The opportunity to integrate with other emergency services is vital using the Joint Emergency Service Interoperability Programme.'

Senior Maritime Operations Officer Paul Whitehead at HM Coastguard added 'The location will be Erith Pier at approximately 11am on Thursday 8 June.'

The exercise can be viewed from a safe distance in public areas around Erith Pier.

Gravesend RNLI Thames Commander Liam Sidders further added, 'The scenario of a person in the water is a familiar one to our four River Thames RNLI lifeboat stations. If you spot someone in trouble, call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.'

On Thursday 8 June at 11am a call was made to HM Coastguard to trigger the start of multi-agency mud rescue known as Operation Mudlark.

Senior Maritime Operations Officer Paul Whitehead at HM Coastguard said, ‘The first of a number of live search & rescue exercises took place today at Erith. Exercise Mudlark proved a valuable opportunity for River Thames rescue assets to test their response to a mud rescue scenario following a person entering the water from Erith Deep Water Pier.’

‘The team consisted of personnel from Gravesend RNLI, London Fire Brigade & Metropolitan Police Service Marine Units, HM Coastguard London and the National Police Air Service London.’

‘All those involved may be employed by different organisations but are all very much of the mind-set of one team for one purpose, and that is making London’s River Thames a safer place for all.’

‘All agencies came away from today’s exercise with some lessons learnt or skills honed as well as strengthening the team bond.’

RNLI Thames Commander Liam Sidders added, ‘A huge thank you to all agencies and volunteers who made today's exercise successful. It was really positive to have such an insight into working together to achieve the same outcome and using all the necessary rescue techniques to good effect. A special thank you to Paul Whitehead and John Fletcher for their attendance and input into the exercise.’


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Edited with Davinci Resolve 18.

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