Fire team are just champion!
A TEAM of firefighters have been crowned champions of an international rescue competition for the third year in a row.
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Bridgend Extrication Team made the trip to Capetown, South Africa, to compete in the World Rescue Organisation Challenge last week.
This year’s event saw 30 teams from 17 countries tackle difficult scenarios across a range of rescue disciplines.
Despite tough competition, the Bridgend team retained their world championship title for the third successive year.
They have now created history by winning back-to-back championships in Wales, UK and world competitions for three consecutive years.
Team leader Andrew Morgan said: “It is an absolute honour to compete alongside so many great teams from across the world, and we are thrilled to be able to bring the world title back home again to South Wales Fire and Rescue Service.
“As well as being a global contest, the World Rescue Organisation Challenge is always a great learning opportunity for us and a chance for firefighting colleagues across the world to share their rescue techniques and skills. I am so proud to be part of a very special group of people who yet again have managed to achieve a fantastic win.”
The event, held from October 22 to 26, saw teams tackle a number of difficult scenarios across three disciplines; a rapid event 10-minute scenario with one casualty, a standard event 20-minute scenario with one casualty and a 30-minute complex scenario with two casualties.
The Bridgend team’s win comes just weeks after retaining their national title at the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation Challenge held at Cardiff Bay. South Wales Fire and Rescue Service Chief Fire Officer Huw Jakeway QFSM said: “This year has been another fantastic one for SWFRS Bridgend Extrication Team and I want to congratulate them on yet another tremendous achievement.
“Their skill and professionalism is truly world class and they make all at South Wales Fire and Rescue Service extremely proud.”
Team manager Shaun Moody added: “This is a fantastic achievement with the team again proving they are the very best rescue team in the world. Their work, dedication and professionalism has created history with them achieving the ‘triple-triple’ in the extreme heat of Cape Town.”