International Rescue Corps

More items from 2005

Castleford Tigers present cheque to Quake heroes
  

Members of International Rescue Corps who have recently returned from the earthquake in Pakistan are to be presented with a cheque for £1,000 by the Castleford Tigers on the 9th Dec.

Customers of the Commercial Hotel in Castleford have been fundraising for the past year and have decided to donate the money to IRC at a special supper and Karaoke.

Kevin Law, landlord of the Commercial Hotel said, “We chose IRC because they attend and respond to a range of disasters worldwide. We also wanted to support the team because every members is a volunteer – it’s our way of showing them that their community is proud of what they do”

Ray Gray, Deputy Corps Director of IRC said: “ It is always great when our local community supports us this way. We left over £10,000 worth of equipment in Pakistan to help with the relief effort and this money will go a long way to help us replace what was left. The corps would like to thank everyone at the Commercial Hotel for their kind generosity”.

Members of IRC and the Castleford Tigers players will be attendance at the evening and are available for interview and photos.

Please contact Julie Ryan on 07786 881908 or press@intrescue.org for further information or to book an interview.
   

Sunday 16th October 2005
  

The 14 strong team from IRC have completed their mission to assist in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan. The exhausted, but happy team arrived back into East Midlands Airport at 02:30 Sun 16 Oct.

During the mission 3 children were recovered alive from collapsed buildings and the team used their expertise to advise and assist local authorities in the Kashmir region.

The team donated £9000 of kit to the aid effort including tents, sleeping bags, medical equipment and water filtration gear.

See Mission Reports for more.
   

Sunday 16th October 2005 (14:30 GMT)
  

The 14 strong team from IRC have completed their mission to assist in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Pakistan. The exhausted, but happy team arrived back into East Midlands Airport at 02:30 Sun 16 Oct.

During the mission 3 children were recovered alive from collapsed buildings and the team used their expertise to advise and assist local authorities in the Kashmir region.

The team donated £9000 of kit to the aid effort including tents, sleeping bags, medical equipment and water filtration gear.

See Mission Reports for more.
   

Monday 3rd October 2005
   

It is with sad regret that we announce the tragic death of Stuart Gray, the son of Corps members Ray and Ronnie Gray. Stuart died in a motorcycle accident on the 23rd September and leaves a partner and 7 year old daughter.

Stuart was an experienced member of the Corps, joining when he was only 10 years old and, over the years has helped the corps in many ways, often being a casualty on numerous training exercises. He became UK Operational a few years ago and has since attended many missions in this country including the Selby Floods and several missing persons searches.

Everyone in the Corps will miss Stuart and we offer our prayers and sincere condolences to the family.
   

Friday 23rd September 2005
  

Hurricane Rita is set to hit the USA this weekend.  As specialists in Urban Search and Rescue, the International Rescue Corpshas put in offers of assistance to the US Embassy in the UK and the British Embassy in the US, should help be required. IRC continues to monitor the situation closely and have a team on standby.
   

Friday 2nd September 2005
  

Following Hurricane Katrina in the US and the disaster that has unfolded, IRC put in offers of help through the relevant agencies. Unfortunately to this day these offers have been refused.

IRC continues to monitor the situation closely and would be willing to help if needed.
   

Friday 8th July 2005
  

21 members of International Rescue Corps were on standby by yesterday to assist in finding any casualties who may have been trapped in the underground following the London bombing. British Transport Police requested the team be mobilised to just outside London to wait to see if their specialist skills in urban search and rescue was needed. Fortunately the team were not required and have now all been stood down.
   

Tuesday 5th July 2005
  

International Rescue Corps receives a substantial donation International Rescue Corps have been donated a large sum of money from the Mia-Lucy Rose Trust following their involvement in trying to find Mia Rose who went missing whilst swimming in Laos last year.

The donation will be presented to IRC on Saturday 9th July by the best selling author Louis De Bernieres, during the grand opening day of the Mia-Lucy Rose Memorial Trim Park, Gorleston Cliff top, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk.

IRC were on their way to assist in finding Mia with small boats and specialist search equipment when unfortunately Mia’s body was found and recovered.

IRC ‘s Corps Director, Willie McMartin said; “It was really sad that we were unable to get to Laos in time to save Mia but with this donation we are able to start fundraising for the purchase of a new aluminium rib boat. We feel this will be a fitting tribute to the memory of Mia and would like to thank the Mia-Lucy Rose Trust.”

Mia‘s brother, Mark Rose said; “IRC were en-route to Laos, where no advanced search and rescue provision was provided, in order to co-ordinate and assist in the search for Mia whilst she was missing. They were able to travel with the specialist search equipment such as thermal imaging cameras and satellite telecommunications, which was not available locally in Laos and in many underdeveloped countries popular with British travellers. We feel this donation is very fitting and have complete admiration for a group of people who are willing to drop everything to help others”.

Members of IRC will be available for interview on the day and for further information please contact Julie Ryan 07786 881908, press@intrescue.org or Mark Rose mialucyrosetrust@btinternet.com

EDITORS NOTE:

The Mia-Lucy Rose Trust was set up following the untimely death of Mia-Lucy. As well as supporting the work of IRC we will help the relief of poverty among local residents in Great Yarmouth who are missing a family member in similar circumstances any where in the world, by the provision of support and funding. We cannot begin to imagine how any parent would feel if they were not financially able to book a ticket fly immediately or pay for an air search when these are not provided.

During 2005 the Trust will participate in national initiatives to raise awareness of the dangers faced by youngsters on gap-years and backpackers who travel to all parts of the world. We would say to any parents that their children must be allowed to follow their dreams, just like Mia had done. She enjoyed many happy times and sent back many wonderful photos and messages to let us know just how much she loved her travelling experience. The Mia-Lucy Rose Trustwww.mialucyrosetrust.org Registered Office: 10 Buxton Avenue, Gorleston, Great Yarmouth. NR31 6HG. Tel / Fax: 01493 604336 Charity Number: 1105134
   

Thursday 16th June 2005
  

The stars of ITV’s This Morning programme, Fern Britton and Philip Schofield, launched IRC’s new rescue ambulance this week. Fern and Philip were very keen to help out on this and managed to ‘cut to the ribbon’ in one go! They expressed great admiration for the corps and were shown around the new vehicle by Willie McMartin, the Corps’ Director. Last year they awarded IRC with a Vodafone Lifesavers award for their work in the Glasgow plastics factory explosion.

Both celebrities said: “We continue to follow the work of IRC closely and when asked if we would launch this new vehicle we had no hesitation in saying yes. It is a wonderful vehicle suitable for a dedicated bunch of volunteers; let’s hope it can be used to the full!”

Willie McMartin, the Corps’ Director said: “The new rescue ambulance replaces the old and crumbling one and proves invaluable in giving support and first aid assistance at fetes and other various events predominantly throughout the Scottish region. It will also be used for attending disaster situations in the UK and is big enough to carry personnel, equipment and casualties if needed.

The new ambulance has been made possible following extensive fundraising by the Scottish region of IRC and by the kindness and generosity of everyone who donated funds. This includes the relatives of some of the deceased who lost their lives in the Glasgow plastics factory explosion last year.”

Two companies must also be highlighted – Bott and AM Philips who in turn supplied a suitable van and helped kit it out with fixtures and fittings

Editors Note:-

Bott is a leading UK manufacturer and installer of vehicle conversion systems, offering a standard and bespoke range of modular storage systems, linings, electrical systems and a decal manufacture and application service. Bott were delighted to be able to assist the International Rescue Corps by converting an Iveco Daily 35S11 panel van. This van will be used by members of the rescue team. The Bott conversion includes all linings, electrical systems including heating and handwash facilities, M1 approved seating, Bott modular storage equipment, lighting and health and safety equipment. The vehicle was converted at Bott’s installation centre in Cumbernauld.
   

Monday 25th April 2005
  

Members of International Rescue Corps were involved this weekend in a real life rescue with Humber Rescue and the ambulance service when a young man fell 40ft off a cliff face in the Humber Country Park. Fortunately, the 15 year old fell onto soft ground but did sustain head, shoulder and rib injuries; the IRC had to stretcher him one mile to a waiting ambulance.

IRC happened to be in the area boat training on the Humber river along with Humber Rescue. One of the more experienced operational members said: “We were just having a coffee break when a young boy ran up to us to say his cousin had fallen and was hurt. It was good that we could help - and it allowed us to practice our casualty handling skills.”

Ray Gray, Deputy Operational Director said: “We train extensively all year long on how to handle causalities if we find them under rubble so this just helped reinforce our training”.

We heard the next day that the boy had broken his collar bone and had lots of bruises but was otherwise alright!
   

Friday 1st April 2005
  

A brief report on the IRC involvement in the search for Joanne Nelson may be found in Mission Reports.
  

Wednesday 30th March 2005
  

Following the recent earthquake in Indonesia on Monday, International Rescue Corps (IRC) has now been stood down. The Department for International Development (DFID) have people on the ground continually assessing and monitoring the situation and in conjunction with the Indonesian government and the UN feel that they can manage the situation with the resources that are already in the area. Obviously IRC remains available should the situation change.
   

Monday 28th March 2005
  

International Rescue Corps (IRC) has been notified of an earthquake in Asia measuring somewhere between 8.2 and 8.5 on the Richter Scale. The epicentre of this quake is in a similar area to where the Boxing Day earthquake took place. Whilst details are sketchy at this stage, IRC have put a team on standby to deploy to the region, should our assistance be requested. Further updates will be issued as the situation becomes clearer.
   

Monday 14th March 2005
  

Four members from the Scottish Group of the International Rescue Corps are helping police search for a missing father and daughter (Angus Buchanan, 45, and Holly, 13, from Hillhead in Glasgow) who were swept from their inflatable boat on Loch Lomond.
  

Friday 11th March 2005
  

Members of the International Rescue Corps will be resuming their search for Joanne Nelson this weekend, in support of Humberside Police.  See Mission reports for more details.
  

Tuesday 22nd February 2005
  

5 members of the International Rescue Corps were drafted in today by Humberside Police to continue the search for the missing Hull woman Joanne Nelson. The 5 members were split up to work alongside the police to search various areas within East Riding and North Yorkshire.

All members will be resuming their efforts on Wednesday as requested by the police.
  

Sunday 20th February 2005
  

14 members of the International Rescue Corps have been drafted in to the search for the missing women Joanne Nelson. Joanne went missing on St. Valentines Day. IRC, as search and rescue specialists, put in an offer of assistance to Humberside Police on Wednesday and are now helping them with searching areas where Joanne may be.
  

January 2005
  

International Rescue Corps have been involved in rescue operations in the flooded town of Carlisle during the last 18 hours. The team of 10 members from Scotland, North Yorkshire and East Anglia with 3 boats have been working with the emergency services. A total of 12 adults, 2 children, 1 cat and 2 dogs were successfully moved to safety by IRC members. The team have now been formally stood down the emergency services and are currently on their way home.