PICTURE GALLRY & VIDEO: More than 20 casualties were injured after a car left the carriageway and collided with a moving train – thankfully, this was just an exercise that was put before the Island’s emergency services this evening (Wednesday).
The Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service and Island Roads all took part in the multi-agency exercise near Havenstreet, which saw a scenario of a car leaving Rowlands Lane and falling onto the railway line below before being hit by a passing train.
The exercise began with the guard on board the train making an emergency call which started a chain reaction of events. The fire service, ambulance service and railway officials responded as if it was a real emergency.
Firefighters and paramedics were not told of what to expect ahead of the exercise going live to make it as real as possible.
With 3 seriously injured people inside the car and more than 20 causalities on board the train, the emergency crews arrived at the scene down a narrow country lane to face the challenge of safely rescuing those involved in what would be a major incident. Using cutting equipment, high-reach platforms and their professional skills, the emergency teams went to work.
The Isle of Wight Steam Railway have worked with the emergency services once again to provide a realistic training environment, utilizing a locomotive and several carriages for the exercise, as well as use of the land.
Volunteers acted as causalities and received realistic make-up from Theatrical make-up students from the Isle of Wight College.
Peter Vail, Manager of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway (pictured above whilst acting) said:
Dave Curry, Chief Fire Officer of the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service, said:
“Multi-agency exercises help us to better understand each other’s areas of expertise and ways of working so that we can improve how we jointly deal with an emergency. Although major incidents are thankfully rare on the Island, exercises such as this play an important part in the ongoing training crews undertake to help them prepare for different scenarios.”
Just 5 years ago emergency services were sadly called to a real emergency on Rowlands Lane near to the railway line, when a plane crashed into dense woodland killing two people.
VIDEO:
PICTURE GALLERY:
