The Isle of Wight’s search and rescue team, Wight SAR, is appealing for the public’s help in funding a new Incident Control Vehicle.
The organisation regularly assists in searches for missing or vulnerable people alongside emergency service colleagues from the police, with all of its volunteer members fully trained in sophisticated search and rescue techniques.
An Incident Control Vehicle is a vital part of the team’s infrastructure and is equipped with a fully operational office that allows trained Search Planners to work with the Police Search Liaison Officer to identify search areas and deploy the search teams.
The vehicle also enables teams to use sophisticated mapping technology to identify and record areas searched and redeploy teams to widen the search zone. It also carries all the required equipment such as a 12.5 metre radio mast allowing secure digital communication with search teams alongside casualty evacuation stretchers, first aid kits, bank search kits and much more.
After many years of service to the team and the residents of the Isle of Wight, the current vehicle – a 2008 Mercedes Sprinter – is said to be in need of replacement due to becoming unreliable leading to the organisation appealing for the public to donate towards the purchase of a new vehicle.
A WightSAR spokesperson said:
“It’s not just the purchase of a “new to us” vehicle but also the cost of the interior rebuild to meet our operational needs. The total cost of the whole project is approximately 35k. We will also be seeking grants to help us reach this grand total.
“This will give us a “fit for purpose” Incident Control Vehicle that will last us many years to come, fully equipped to support our life saving searches.”
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In recent months, the team has been tasked to support several searches, including a missing man in the Ryde area earlier this week.
If you feel able to fundraise towards this project or want more information please email [email protected] or head to the fundraising page here.
Surely the council could fund it instead of waisting money on the floating bridge. Their van is a much worthier thing to have so come on council put some money into something worthwhile