EMERGENCY rescue teams and a helicopter have swooped on Dolgellau.

Fortunately, there was no risk to life or people imperilled, as it was a training exercise for rescuers to work together and learn how to work more efficiently and potentially save even more lives.

Ali Chedgy, senior coastal operations officer for HM Coastguard, said: “On Wednesday, 7 March, coastguard rescue teams from Aberdyfi and Barmouth met in Dolgellau, so that they could train with Coastguard rescue helicopter 936 from Caernarfon.

“The coastguard has 10 search and rescue helicopter bases around the UK.

“The closest ones to us in mid Wales are those at Caernarfon and St Athans.

“Every coastguard rescue team trains extensively in water rescue, first aid, essential navigation, communications, practical search techniques and search planning.

“Many teams are also trained in cliff rescue and/or mud rescue as well. This allows the teams to respond to any emergency along the coast.

“It’s important that all the coastguard rescue teams get the opportunity to train with the helicopter in a controlled environment, so that they have the skills and the confidence to work with the aircraft during an incident, when someone’s life depends on it.

“The focus of these exercises was to look at some of the different methods of transferring a casualty from the ground to the helicopter, so that the casualty can then be moved onto the next stage of care as quickly as possible.”

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