Porthcawl RNLI volunteer offers assistance at Whaley Bridge
Volunteers from the RNLI's Flood Rescue teams have been working as part of the multi-agency response to the ongoing situation at Toddbrook Reservoir.
Paul Eastment, Area Lifesaving Manager for the RNLI, who lives in Porthcawl is a team leader at the incident. Paul served as a volunteer lifeboat crew at Porthcawl for many years before joining the RNLI staff on a full time basis.
Paul along with Porthcawl volunteer crewman Chris Missen were awarded the Bronze Medal for Gallantry following their part in a perilous flood rescue in 2012.
The RNLI’s team which is made up of specially trained volunteers, including lifeboat crew and operational staff are all trained in swift water rescue.
Volunteers from the south west, the east coast and from north and south Wales were deployed at around 10.30am on Sunday morning (4 August) requested to support Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service.
RNLI Flood Rescue Command Member Terry Webb says:
'The RNLI is part of a multi-agency response offering assistance at Toddbrook Reservoir. We have a two teams of trained volunteers working on a shift pattern 24/7.
'Our teams have been providing support to the high volume pumping teams, safety cover and other activities required of us as part of the response plan.'
Key facts about the RNLI
The RNLI charity saves lives at sea. Its volunteers provide a 24-hour search and rescue service around the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland coasts. The RNLI operates 238 lifeboat stations in the UK and Ireland and more than 240 lifeguard units on beaches around the UK and Channel Islands. The RNLI is independent of Coastguard and government and depends on voluntary donations and legacies to maintain its rescue service. Since the RNLI was founded in 1824, its lifeboat crews and lifeguards have saved over 146,000 lives.
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