Cliff rescue exercise
Two men on a ledge some 40ft above the waterline on Whitewash Head, Scarborough, were “rescued” by members of the Christchurch face rescue team on Wednesday evening, in a surpritse night exercise. The exercise was called by the police, who telephoned members of the rescue organisation with news of the emergency about 7 p.m. In spite of the lack of advance warning, a team had assembled at the Central Police Station within 20 minutes.
The two persons on the ledge near the bottom of the cliffs were landed nearby from a small boat earlier. Both were rescued using the team’s special Austrian developed equipment The equipment comprises rolls of wire cable in 500 ft lengths, with a breaking strain of about 40001 b, a winch, and a braking drum.
Staff of the Christchurch M.E.D. arranged lighting powered by portable generators.
The Christchurch face rescue team has been in existence for about five years for difficult rescues in unusual circumstances. It has about 20 members, mostly mountaineers, and a police liaison representative.
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Bibliographic details
Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32636, 18 June 1971, Page 10
Word Count
174Cliff rescue exercise Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32636, 18 June 1971, Page 10
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