Hunstanton RNLI on lifesaving exercise in King's Lynn

Practice rescue by RNLI crew, firefighters and the police.

This was the scenario - a casualty stuck on a muddy bank, as dusk falls and a fast-flowing tide from the North Sea rushes in.  RNLI crews and firefighters race to save them from the rapidly rising waters of the River Ouse.  

Hunstanton RNLI sent its hovercraft and fast inshore lifeboat by sea to the centre of the port town, while Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service launched an inflatable boat from a nearby slipway and police stood by ashore.

RNLI hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer and Norfolk fire service's RIB on the River Ouse

It's to rehearse how the services would work together during a real-life emergency on Lynn's historic waterfront.

The 'casualty' - a training dummy used by volunteers at the lifeboat station - was soon located on the West Lynn bank near the Ferry Steps.

Once the hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer had brought the mannikin ashore, firefighters came alongside and deployed an inflatable mud sled to help transport them up the slippery bank.

The simulated casualty being brought ashore on an inflatable mud sled by hovercraft crew and firefighters

Lifeboat operations manager Mike Gould says, "It was a really useful evening for ourselves, the fire service and police.  It was all about learning about each other's craft, equipment and capabilities and how we'd use them together during a real emergency which might require all of our expertise to be deployed."

RNLI hovercraft Hunstanton Flyer taking part in the exercise in King's Lynn

Adding, "'People associate us with search and rescue operations at sea, but we're just as ready to go to the aid of someone who finds themselves in danger in the centre of Lynn."

Pictures all Chris Bishop