SEARCH and rescue teams conducted training exercises at the Shoeburyness Boom on Saturday in preparation for an anticipated rise in call outs over the summer.  

Echo: Practice – the 'casualty' is picked up from Shoebury East BeachPractice – the 'casualty' is picked up from Shoebury East Beach (Image: HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea)

HM Coastguard Southend on Sea, RNLI Southend Lifeboat, and National Coastwatch Southend teamed up in warm conditions to practice working together in case they are all called out to an incident.

Echo: Response – the emergency teams carried out simulated casualty careResponse – the emergency teams carried out simulated casualty care (Image: HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea)

As part of a practice scenario, National Coastwatch Southend reported a casualty at end of the Shoebury Boom, with the Southend hovercraft then tasked with picking up coastguard rescue officers from Shoebury East Beach and make their way to the casualty.

Echo: Teamwork – M Coastguard Southend-on-Sea, RNLI Southend Lifeboat, and National Coastwatch all worked together as part of the exerciseTeamwork – M Coastguard Southend-on-Sea, RNLI Southend Lifeboat, and National Coastwatch all worked together as part of the exercise (Image: HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea)

Both HM Coastguard and RNLI crews performed simulated casualty care and then extracted the casualty from their locale back to the beach to be transported back to shore.

Echo: Warm – the training exercise was carried out in good conditionsWarm – the training exercise was carried out in good conditions (Image: HM Coastguard Southend-on-Sea)

Anyone who sees a somebody in trouble on or near the coast, they should call 999 immediately and ask for the coastguard.