ASSAR Condolences to Family of Missing Mother and Baby Found in Avon Gorge
Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue (ASSAR) would like to pass on their condolences to the family and friends of Charlotte Bevan and her daughter Zaani Tiana Bevan Malbrouck during this very difficult time.
Avon and Somerset Police requested the support of ASSAR on the evening of Wednesday 3rd December for a technical search of the cliff face in Avon Gorge. Team members, along with the police rope access team, worked until 3am on Thursday and then returned at 10am to resume the search. The team found the baby child on Thursday afternoon.
Duncan Massey, chair of Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue said; “We are very proud to have been able to use our specialist skills to assist the police with being able to draw this incident to a close. This was a particularly difficult and harrowing search due to the nature of the incident. All of the team members involved are being supported by the wider team.”
Posted on 05 / 12 / 2014
Grant for ASSAR after Somerset floods
On the night of February 6th 2014 ASSAR was called to the village of Moorland on the Somerset Levels. The team was called as there was a threat to life from the rising flood water. ASSAR personnel worked alongside the other emergency services to move local people, their pets and farm animals to safe areas. You can read the full callout details here.
ASSARs new drysuit and buoyancy aid required after the Somerset flooding in February 2014.
One consequence of this evening was the pollutants in the flood water effecting the seals on the teams dry suits. Thanks to a grant from the Bellwin scheme that provided emergency financial assistance during and after the flooding in Somerset ASSAR has now taken delivery of new dry suits and buoyancy aids.
ASSAR is being called to an increasing number of water related incidents over the last few years. The amount of training in this area has had to increase in parallel. ASSAR now has a dozen Swiftwater Rescue & Flood Technicians and a qualified instructor in the team.
Following on from the widespread floods the Somerset Emergency Voluntary Agencies Group won the Voluntary Sector Award 2014 at the Emergency Planning Society Awards Ceremony. ASSAR is pleased to have played a timely role in the overall voluntary effort and congratulates the other agencies.
Posted on 04 / 10 / 2014
Police Cadets Practice Search and Rescue
Police cadets from North Somerset have spent two evening training sessions in preparation for a large search and rescue exercise with ASSAR. The exercise took place on Sunday 6th July at Sandford Quarry.
Their learning was put to the test with an exercise involving finding clues, working out the direction of travel of a missing person, searching difficult ground, locating the casualty and moving them to a safe location. The cadets were expected to show their search skills, effective communication between each other and ‘control’, leadership and planning.
The cadets did extremely well finding the casualty quickly using their skills and swiftly moving him to a place of safety. ASSAR members were so impressed they invited the cadets to join the rest of the team who were carrying out an exercise in the same location. The cadets then got to work alongside full team members.
Our thanks to the cadets and PC Ray Bradley for their enthusiasm. Thanks also to Mendip Snowsport Centre for allowing use of their land for the exercise.
Posted on 09 / 07 / 2014
HSBC Discover Search and Rescue
Members of ASSAR were delighted to introduce HSBC staff to the world of search and rescue on Saturday 28th June. The staff from the Wells and Shepton Mallet branches had raised an amazing £900 for ASSAR. The staff learnt how searching is different from looking, how to load and move a casualty in a vacuum mattress. Despite a brief storm nothing stopped them from getting stuck in. Thanks again to HSBC and the staff members involved.
Adam Brooke from HSBC hands over a fundraising cheque for £900 to ASSAR
HSBC staff learn how to load and move a stretcher with members of ASSAR.
Posted on 30 / 06 / 2014
Royal Visit to Cheddar Gorge
Members of ASSAR were presented to Edward and Sophie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex today in Cheddar Gorge. ASSAR were given the chance to explain their technical rescue role in the gorge for climbers and tourist and their wider search and rescue role in Avon and Somerset. Duncan Massey, ASSARs Chairman accompanied the royal party on an open top bus through the gorge with Martin Crocker, local climbing champion and BMC rep, who has helped climbing stay an integral part of the gorge.
Earl and Countess of Wessex visiting Cheddar Gorge and Caves today.
Bob Montgomery, Chief Executive of Longleat, Viscount Weymouth and Viscountess Weymouth meet ASSAR Chairman Duncan Massey at Cheddar Gorge today.
Posted on 09 / 06 / 2014