Four Lincolnshire firefighters and their search and rescue dog Colin are back from supporting search and rescue efforts in Morocco in the wake of the magnitude-6.8 earthquake.
Working with the UK International Search and Rescue team, Ben Clarke, Darren Burchnall, Karl Keuneke, and Neil Woodmansey helped search efforts and provided medical and practical assistance, predominantly to remote villages in the Atlas mountains.
UK ISAR deployed a team of 62 people from 14 fire and rescue services, and four search dogs on 10 September.
The team faced long drives on tracks to reach far-spread villages, often having to re-route around landslides. Aftershocks also hampered efforts to get to remote locations.
Many villagers they helped had injured limbs, serious wounds, or were suffering with dehydration, and had had no medical care since the earthquake. Others, including an elderly man, hadn’t been able to get to their homes or travel away from wreckage for help.
Cllr Lindsey Cawrey, executive councillor for Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue, said: “I’m very proud that once again our fire and rescue service has been able to assist international communities who have lost so much in a devastating natural disaster. “
Lincolnshire’s Chief Fire Officer, Mark Baxter, said: “As part of UK ISAR, our firefighters undergo specialist training and learning to be able to help save lives and support operations in the most challenging of conditions.”
