Martin Croad and Tim Edwards become rescue boat operators

TWO members of the RNLI’s volunteer lifeboat crew in Lyme Regis are now qualified to take charge of a rescue operation during major floods.

Martin Croad and Tim Edwards have qualified as rescue boat operators which means they could take the helm of a lifeboat during rescue operations in a flooding crisis.

Martin and Tim both took a recent course at Poole to gain their qualification.

Martin has also just returned from a flood rescue exercise at Hayle in Cornwall designed to top-up his skills.

The exercise, on a tidal estuary, tested RNLI crew members in their ability to cope in swift water situations.

Martin, 32, said:”When the tide drops at Hayle we were told that five and a half tons of water a second rushes through the tunnels where we exercised.”

The exercise involved 17 RNLI crew members from the south-west.

They are part of a group of 30 in the region who would form two boat teams 24 hours a day for four days in the event of a major flood.

It’s all part of the RNLI’s commitment to a National Flood Rescue Team.

Martin added:”The exercise was very challenging and realistic. It was as close as we could get to the real thing in a serious flood.”