SARA Receive Equipment Donation

Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service have donated three thermal image cameras to assist Severn Area Rescue Association.

The equipment was formally handed over to a small part of the SARA team at Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters on Thursday 5th January by Deputy Chief Terry Standing, and was warmly received.

SARA, as the organisation is more commonly known, is a totally voluntary organisation, and has been in operation for over 30 years. They provide an around the clock rescue service using fast water rescue craft covering the rivers and estuaries of the Severn, Wye, Usk and Avon.

“The thermal image cameras, which work on radiated heat, and which have been invaluable to GFRS in the search and location of rescued casualties, will now be a valuable addition to the equipment that SARA already use and will I’m sure be used on a regular basis.” Deputy Chief Terry Standing said, as he formally handed over the cameras to the SARA team.

On receiving the cameras Peter Wishhusen, Executive Fundraising Officer and a Deputy Launch Authority stated “Even though these cameras would be high on our wish list of the sort of equipment that we would like to use, we would as a voluntary organisation, find it very difficult to justify spending large sums of money to buy this sort of equipment. To receive them as a donation is marvellous.”

He added, “We will be able to use these on both land and boat operations. As you can imagine doing any sort of search and rescue during the night and in foggy conditions is extremely difficult and time consuming. Our line of visibility will be greatly increased with the use of these thermal image cameras.”

Those receiving the equipment on behalf of SARA were:

Brett Richings – Station Chairman - Sharpness
Alan Stanley – SARA Executive Chairman and Wyre Forest coxswain
Ian Beddis – Assistant Search Manager - Beachley
Tim Carter – Search Manager - Beachley
Peter Wishhusen – Executive Fundraising Officer and DLA

News Item added16/01/2006