Working together in all kinds of weather
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The
Coastguard – along with partner emergency services and other rescue
organisations - has worked tirelessly to assist those at risk in some of the worst-affected
areas. All North Western teams are still on standby to assist ongoing
operations and support the recovery efforts.
On
Tuesday Millom, Annan, Burgh by Sands and Maryport Coastguard rescue teams were
asked to help the NHS with an humanitarian aid effort to deliver pharmaceuticals
and distribute fresh water to the Carlisle community.
Over
the weekend, the Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Caernarfon was
involved in operations from 5.45pm on Saturday 5 December till the early hours
of Sunday 6 December in the Lake District. They rescued a family of six
from their flooded home and recovered three people who had been trapped in
their vehicle by a landslide. They also rescued two elderly people – one of
whom was disabled - moving them clear of power lines which were directly
overhead and then winching them safely to the aircraft. During these
operations, the crew experienced challenging conditions as they faced gale
force winds between 40-70 knots, severe turbulence and very low cloud cover. The
Royal Navy helicopter based at Prestwick were also rescuing people in the worst
affected areas.
Russ
Parks, who was rescued from the loft of a bungalow near Pooley Bridge along
with three adults and two children aged 20 months and 10 years old said:
“We couldn’t be more grateful to the Coastguards who rescued us on Saturday night.
Heroes isn’t a word I use very often but the Coastguards saved me and my family
from what was a very harrowing and life threatening situation. We have
not experienced storms like this before and we couldn’t believe that the force
of the water washed away Pooley Bridge. I’d also like to thank Cumbria
Fire and Rescue Service for their significant part in our rescue and Carlisle
Airport for taking such good care of us.”
Coastguard
teams from Annan, Kirkcudbright, Portling, Maryport, Burgh by Sands,
Whitehaven, Morecambe, Arnside and Knott End have helped members of the public
from flooded residences to safe ground in Lancaster, Catterall, Cockermouth, Carlisle,
Workington and other parts of North Wales and the Scottish borders on the west
coast of mainland UK. Coastguard vehicles and rescue helicopters have also been
valuable support in transferring people to hospital where access has been cut
by flooding.
Millon
and Furness Coastguard rescue teams upheld vital coastal cover for the whole of
the Cumbrian coast whilst other teams were sent inland.
Keith
Oliver, Chief Coastguard, said:
“Our Coastguards have been working around the clock over the past few days to ensure the public stay safe. We have stood shoulder to shoulder with our partner emergency services, and local authorities, responding to multiple critical and life-threatening incidents across the UK and I’d like to thank them all for their enormous efforts in what have been difficult weather conditions.
“Our Coastguards have been working around the clock over the past few days to ensure the public stay safe. We have stood shoulder to shoulder with our partner emergency services, and local authorities, responding to multiple critical and life-threatening incidents across the UK and I’d like to thank them all for their enormous efforts in what have been difficult weather conditions.
“We
have been monitoring the weather closely over the last 72 hours and will
continue to do so. We hope the worst has passed but we would urge the
public to check the current conditions in their area and if at risk not to make
any unnecessary journeys.”
You can
watch footage of the rescue operations from the Cumbria floods captured by the
Coastguard search and rescue helicopter based at Caernarfon here:
