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Dramatic rescue training gets Loughborough College students in deep water

Posted: 10th January 2018 - 1:19pm
Dramatic rescue training gets Loughborough College students in deep water

A Loughborough College student found herself in a deep water fight for survival during a dramatic international rescue operation simulation with the Royal Navy.

Kerri Flynn and fellow Public Services degree students from the College faced disturbing scenes at the heart of a full-scale British-led disaster training exercise for the German Navy in Plymouth.

A helicopter flew in and out of a ‘hurricane-hit village’ as troops tackled fires, flooding and casualties, with Loughborough College students stepping into the role of victims.

“I was trapped alone in a dark building, submerged in freezing cold water, unable to reach my baby nearby,” said Kerri.

“I was screaming for help and could see people passing but no one was responding.

“Although I’d been given a wetsuit it got colder and colder and as time ticked by with me helpless to escape with my child, I felt the mounting despair you would in reality.

“By the time I was rescued after close to an hour it had started to snow. But that was only one part of a full day facing incredibly disturbing scenes.

“There were overwhelmed and agitated victims, ‘corpses’ being carried past and danger and absolute devastation everywhere. Specialist casualty actors were involved and when one was ‘having a seizure’ it was so realistic - and with all that going on around us you had to force yourself to keep thinking, this is not real.

“It was a daunting environment and offered a real insight into how people on both sides react during a crisis on a massive scale.

“I’m in my final year of my BA (Hons) and it’s one thing to learn the theory of something but to see it first hand is something else entirely. It was an invaluable experience.

“I’m working on a report on disaster management and emergency evacuation and my dissertation is looking at the impact of an emergency on crowd safety during large events. I’m looking at a career in nursing, becoming a paramedic or joining the armed forces. The degree gives me so many options.”

“This hands-on exposure makes a real impact on our students’ work,” added Loughborough College Public Services lead Tim Turner.

“They were right at the heart of operations, feeling what it must be like to be overwhelmed victims witnessing the ‘corpses’ of relatives being carried to the mortuary or right there as the helicopter took off and landed. Our students also talked to key personnel involved in the simulation.

“This experience gave them a better understanding of the procedures and specialist skills needed during a major disaster. It’s been a brilliant opportunity for them to reinforce their degree learning.”

Pictured: Loughborough College Public Services degree student Kerri Flynn gets into deep water during a major armed forces disaster training exercise