The team on Monday night practiced their Swiftwater Rescue Training in the River Ness. Training is carried out regularly for this skill as it requires great knowledge and precision timing. Firstly the team placed a diagonal zip line which is used to transfer rescuers and casualties from one side of a fast flowing river to another or taking people from an piece of land cut off by rising water around them. The second part of the training which requires precision timing is the snatch and grab method. This is the last resort. The steps we follow first is
Shout (Get the casualties attention and get them to try to swim)
Reach (Try reach out to the casualty)
Throw (Deploy a throw line)
Row (Try to locate a boat to row out to the casualty)
Go (Entering the water should be a VERY last resort)
The ‘Go’ part is where the Coastguard wearing the correct PPE, drysuit, buoyancy aid, helmet and gloves is attached to a line and jumps in to the water as the casualty approaches, grabbing them and being pulled back to the rivers edge. This is a last resort as it carries the highest risk for everyone.
The photos below show the dummy we used. Unfortunately it wasn’t caught on the last attempt and headed off down the river. This part was used as an excercise to see how long it would take a person to float down stream. Thanks to Kessock Lifeboat for retrieving it!!


Untrained people should never jump in fast flowing waters as it carries a HIGH RISK OF DEATH.
Dial 999 and ask for the COASTGUARD