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Shoreline protection with Avon’s |
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The shoreline of Weston-super- Mare is set to gain extra protection following the launch of Avon Fire and Rescue Service’s new hovercraft. The hovercraft, which will cover an area of the shoreline from Brean Down to Sand Bay, is equipped to deal with a range of incidents including rescuing people who have became trapped in the mud and providing support to the area during times of inland flooding. Watch Manager at Westonsuper- Mare Fire Station Pete Coombs has been leading the project to bring a hovercraft to the area and is currently involved in training crews to use the vessel. This should be completed by the end of June, when the hovercraft is expected to be in full operation, in time for the busy summer season. Avon’s hovercraft will be used to complement the services already provided by the Royal National Lifeboat Institute (RNLI) and HMS Coastguard. CFO Kevin Pearson described the hovercraft as a major asset to the service.
He said: “The hovercraft will increase the flexibility of Avon Fire and Rescue Service’s rescue capacity. As well as assisting us with incidents along the shoreline, we will be able to use the vehicle in more remote locations, where fire appliances may not be able to reach. “Not only will it mean we can reach trapped casualties in just a few minutes, but it will also ensure the safety of our firefighters, who until now have had to walk out onto the mud and risk becoming stuck themselves.” “Clearly with the flooding we saw last summer a hovercraft would have been a huge asset on inland waterways, but we also believe the hovercraft could be used to ferry equipment and staff to incidents such as animal rescues on soft ground or road traffic collisions that may involve a beach.”
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