Bay Search and Rescue Team - Morecambe Bay, Cumbria

News

February 2009 - Latest 'Top Secret' team developments

We have been working on a project for over 8 years which we hope will prove to be yet another major innovation for search and rescue in the hostile environment we work in. We are now in advanced testing stages (which some locals may have already seen or heard about on BBC Radio Cumbria!) with an Airboat, similar to those used in the Florida Everglades but very heavily modified for Search and Rescue use. The US Coastguard and many US Rescue teams use these extensively and they proved themselves many times over in the evacuation of New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. More news will be released as soon as we have had the approvals we need to take the next step towards making this possibly the first operational airboat in the UK.

Queens Guide to the Sands - Cedric Robinson

A short feature filmed for the BBC Coast programme posted on YouTube about Cedric Robinson, the Queen's Guide to the Sands of Morecambe Bay, who leads Cross Bay Walks for charity fundraising (including ours) across the bay between Arnside and Kent's Bank.

15th January 2009 - Landrover International Visit

A group from landrover international magazine have been touring the coastline of the UK with their vehicles. They were fascinated with our two Hagglunds and wondered why we needed something so extreme. So we introduced them to the shoreline at Flookburgh and Sandgate. On seeing it they decided it may not be the best idea to drive their Landrovers where we take the Hagglunds. The article is in the April 2009 Landrover International magazine. :: photos ::

December 2009 - Bay Search Quicksand Extraction Technique

After many years of seeking the best tools for use in extracting trapped casualties from quicksand we have finally gone operational with our own unique solution. We can now safely and quickly extract people and animals trapped in quicksand in a matter of a few minutes, compared to previous times of up to half and hour or even hours. We have undertaken successful exercises with team members and subsequently demonstrated this technique and equipment to a number of South Lakes Fire Service crews. This has proved so successful that they have asked us to train some more crews early in the new year. :: photos ::

November 2008 - A second Hagglund

We have been trying to locate a second Hagglund for some time. They are not easy to find, especially in good serviceable condition. However we finally came across one locally, in Levens of all places. It is another diesel engined model, which was our preferred option, but more importantly it is also a cargo carrier variant with a 2500Kg Hiab crane in the rear carriage. This is ideal as our new heavy equipment platform, and was put into operational service almost immediately :: photos ::

27th July 2008 - Annual Cross Bay sponsored walk

Over 500 people joined us and Cedric Robinson the Queens Guide to the Sands for a very sunny day out on Morecambe Bay. Around 275 people were there to support us. The Bay Seach and Rescue walkers sterling efforts will help raise funds for the Team which as an independent charity relies on fundraising like this to survive.. :: More details ::

12th April 2008 - Team assists with Beach cleanup

Morecambe Bay Partnership organised a Beach clean at Sandgate, Cark which BSAR attended with the hagglund towing an open trailer to provided a heavy collection service. Items removed from the shoreline included full truck wheels and tyresand 55 gallon oil drums full of tallow washed up from the shipwreck at Blackpool. :: More info ::

21st July 2008 - Team now has 2 Swift Water Rescue Technicians

Bay Search and Rescue operational team members Ben Jinks and James Burrows have just successfully completed advancd training and qualiified as Swift Water Rescue Technicians. Further team members are also to be trained to this level during 2008-2009.

We have been awarded a grant from O2

As part of their 'its your community' scheme, Bay Search and Rescue have been chosen as the September 2007 winners of a monthly grant of £1000 awarded by O2. This is to be used to purchase four much needed new Marine VHF radios for the team and a new main radio unit with loudhailer for the Hagglund rescue vehicle. :: More info ::

27th July 2008 - Annual Cross Bay sponsored walk

Over 500 people joined us and Cedric Robinson the Queens Guide to the Sands for a very sunny day out on Morecambe Bay. Around 275 people were there to support Bay Search and Rescue along with supporters for two other charities in the fantastic weather. The Bay Seach and Rescue walkers sterling efforts will help raise funds for the Team which as an independent charity relies on fundraising like this to survive. If anything it was probably a bit too warm, especially for the children and dogs that many families brought along, but a dip in the main channel we had to wade through was very appreciated. :: More Photos ::

27th July 2008 - Annual Cross Bay sponsored walk

It's back again! Why not join us with your family and friends for a unique day out in the fresh air on Morecambe Bay. Your participation by gaining sponsors to do this will help raise funds for the Bay Search and Rescue Team which as an independent charity relies on fund raising like this to survive. The walk will be led by Cedric Robinson, the Queens Official Guide to the Sands and supported by team members from Bay Search and Rescue in their distinctive orange hi-visibility jackets. Some of the team will be walking with you and will be happy to discuss our role on the Bay, and some will follow in our amphibious and all-terrain Hagglund rescue vehicle which you will have an opportunity to look around - and maybe a ride in if all that fresh air proves too much! We will depart from Arnside promenade at 12.15 prompt and will walk across to Kents Bank near Grange-over-Sands, arriving a couple of hours or so later. The length of the walk varies depending on the route Cedric takes on the day through the channels (and around any quicksand obviously - which is why he is the Queens guide!). Children and anyone comfortable walking for a couple of hours are welcome. There are usually some channels to wade through so be prepared to get wet to your knees or so. Anyone not happy to wade can always take a ride in the Hagglund. Dogs are welcome if kept under control. Some gentle exercise all the family can join in with, lots of fresh air and a chance to say you have done something unique - we look forward to seeing you.

Register for a sponsor form
If you have any questions please contact Gary Parsons on 07776 156171 - or email gary@baysearchandrescue.org.uk

12th April 2008 - Team assists with Beach cleanup

Morecambe Bay Partnership organised a Beach clean at Sandgate, Cark which BSAR attended with the hagglund towing an open trailer to provide a heavy collection service. A staggering 3 ½ tonnes of waste was removed from the shoreline. Items removed included full truck wheels and tyres and 55 gallon oil drums full of tallow washed up from the shipwreck at Blackpool. Volunteer organiser Matt Sanderson said, "The help that Bay Search and Rescue have given us today is brilliant, but I would really like to thank everyone who has been here today - they all worked very hard indeed. The assistance from eight members of Bay Search and Rescue team with their Hagglund tracked rescue vehicle meant that we could collect the tyres and large items much more efficiently and safely. It also made the cleanup more of an event for the volunteers, some of who enjoyed a ride in the vehicle". Jules Evans, handled the local publicity, and said "I really enjoyed today and am delighted by the support and the result." :: More Photos ::

Sept 2007 - We have been awarded a grant from O2

19th August 2007 - Sponsored Annual Cross Bay Walk

Our annual cross bay sponsored walk on the 19th August 2007 to raise funds for the Bay Search and Rescue Team was great success. Led by the Queens guide to the Sands; Cedric Robinson over an hundred adults and children enjoyed a pleasant few hours crossing the Bay. The weather stayed dry and the sun even came out a couple of times! The walkers didn't stay quite as dry after negotiating various channels that got over knee high on occasion. Our Hagglund rescue vehicle followed as backup and came in useful to ferry some of the younger children across the main channel in the middle. Some enjoyed the ride so much that they were reluctant to get out again afterwards. Refreshments were waiting for everyone at the finish at Kents Bank and most people then caught the train back across the Bay to Arnside to collect their cars at the end of their mini-adventure. Many thanks to all who took part - maybe we will see you again next year! :: More Photos ::