The Chronicle (South Tyneside and Durham)
Festival will show scenes of dramatic rescues
QUAYSIDE TO PLAY HOST TO TEAMS OF HEROES
VISITORS to the Quayside this weekend will witness some extraordinary scenes of dramatic rescues in what is set to be a showpiece event of the year.
On the weekend after Newcastle and Gateshead hosted the Great North Run (GNR) there will be another action-packed two days in store at a Festival of Rescue which will demonstrate the likes of rope and water rescues as 25 UK fire and rescue services come together in a competition focused in and around the Tyne.
There will be 68 teams – comprising 300 competitors – showcasing their lifesaving skills over September 17-18 in dramatic simulations expected to attract spectators to both banks of the river.
The UKRO Challenge – Festival of Rescue is an annual event staged in a different city each year and, following the GNR, it is this time set to bring another major share of the national spotlight to the North East.
Chief Fire Officer Chris Lowther of Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service, which is hosting the event, said: “The scale and ambition of this twoday showcase will be a lasting legacy for the North East and our partners as this is the biggest event of its type ever to be staged in the UK.”
The festival sites will take over Newcastle Quayside; Spillers Wharf; Baltic Square and Baltic Mill from 8am until 5pm on both days.
The competing teams will battle it out in five key disciplines in a bid to be crowned the very best in their field and they include one from Luxemburg who will be taking part in the Water Challenge – the first day of which – in an exception to the others – will actually take place at the Tees Barrage in Tees Valley before switching to the Tyne on the Saturday.
The Festival of Rescue is being held in partnership with all five Tyne and Wear authorities with each of them supporting one UKRO – United Kingdom Rescue Organisation – challenge.
A Water Rescue challenge at the Festival of Rescue
The five disciplines are Vehicle Extrication, in partnership with Newcastle City Council; Trauma Care, in partnership with Gateshead Council; Urban Search and Rescue with Sunderland City Council; Rope Rescue involving South Tyneside and the Water Rescue with North Tyneside councils.
The festival will also prove an opportunity for fire services to exchange best practice and highlight safety issues.
As well as watching the challenges, spectators will be able to visit a Community Engagement Village, aimed at residents and businesses, where they can pick up safety advice and recruitment information as well as watch fire safety demonstrations.
On the festival’s first day, Friday, campaigner Rebecca Ramsay also will be there to talk about the importance of water safety, having set up the Doing it for Dylan initiative following the tragic loss of her 13-yearold son who died while swimming in open water in July 2011.
Mr Lowther said that the festival
Vehicle Extrication at the Festival of Rescue
will provide a national stage to shine a spotlight on those involved in emergencies and celebrate their daily skill, dedication and devotion to keeping the public safe.
“This promises to be an actionpacked programme for all of the family and will also provide an opportunity for visitors to learn more about the fire and rescue service from recruitment through to fire safety,” he said.
“The Festival of Rescue is going to be a fantastic occasion that everyone in attendance will remember for years to come.”
Neil Odin, chairman of UKRO, a charitable organisation, as well as Chief Fire Officer of Hampshire and Isle of Wight FRS, said: “We are all very much looking forward to this event.”
Thanking volunteers and Tyne & Wear FRS for making it possible “after such a difficult 18 months for us all”, he added: “It is the highlight of our year and to be able to host it at such a fantastic venue is very exciting for all UKRO personnel.”