UKROchampsHampshire Fire and Rescue Service has been crowned National Extrication Champions after victory over 36 other Services at the UK's biggest rescue challenge competition.

More than 400 people flocked to see the spectacle involving a total of 600 fire-fighters competing in a range of in road traffic collision scenarios staged at a specially constructed area in Liverpool.

Representing UK at the World Rescue Challenge
Hampshire’s Extrication Team Manager, Lee Harvey, said: “It is absolutely fantastic to take away the winner’s title for extrication.

“We are very confident in our fire-fighters’ abilities.....It just shows that what we do, we do very well.”

Harvey also said he was delighted the team would now go forward to represent Hampshire and the UK at the World Rescue Challenge being held in Clearwater, Florida in October.

Hants Extrication Team has held the world and European Championships winner’s trophy during its 27 year history but had never won the national title.

Range of skills and professionalism
Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service worked in partnership with the United Kingdom Rescue Organisation among other sponsors to stage an event that showed a broad range of challenges.

This year’s tasks included rope rescue, casualty management/trauma care, extrication/vehicle rescue, water rescue and Urban Search and Rescue (USAR).

After presenting Hampshire with the winner's trophy, UKRO CFO Steve Apter said: “This is the largest rescue challenge of its kind in the world.

"The range of skills and professionalism on show during the event was fantastic and it was great to see all of the teams’ efforts recognised by those at the closing ceremony and awards ceremony in Liverpool. "
 
In addition to the RTC challenge, Hampshire entered their first aid/trauma and water rescue challenges and were placed 5th and 8th place respectively.

The Hampshire team was made up of, Watch Manager Lee Havey (Incident Commander) and Firefighter Brian Saunders, Havant Fire Station, Firefighter Steve Morris (Medic), Eastleigh Fire Station, Watch Manager Trevor Griffin (Medic) Eastleigh Training Centre, Crew Manager Etienne Patterson (Tools), Andover Fire Station and Firefighter Martin Gritt (Tools) Winchester Fire Station.