Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service Press Release
Flood heroes return for hovercraft training

Two hovercraft pilots from Italy who came to the county’s aid in the 2007 floods are back in Gloucestershire next week.

They are among a group of 15 Italian hovercraft instructor pilots coming to the county to train the newly formed Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service’s Hovercraft Rescue Team. The team specialises in rescue on unstable surfaces and wide-area flooding. Ten officers are being trained. They will be in the county from Monday (23rd) to Friday (27th).

The Italian instructors are water rescue practitioners from a range of organisations including Hi-Tech International, Venice Fire Service, Grosetto Fire Service, the Red Cross and CFUSCN, who operate under the Italian Government’s Civil Protection Department.

Terry Standing, Chief Fire Officer, said: “Many of our pilots are already experienced power boat and water rescue instructors, but having the skills to pilot hovercrafts will give the people of Gloucestershire added protection.”

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive, Cabinet member for community safety, said: “We really appreciate the efforts of the instructors coming all the way from Italy to train our team. They come from some fantastic organisations and have wide-ranging experience.”

ENDS

Notes for Editors

GFRS currently owns two hovercrafts, supplied by Hi-Tech International srl. The hovercrafts were purchased in 2008 under the Community Recovery Fund set up by Severn Trent Water Ltd, following the 2007 floods.

The two Italian pilots who were in the county in July 2007 come from CFUSCN.

Issued by: Tally Giampa, Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service, 01452 753309 or 07798 588427.

Issued by: Sarah Wood, Gloucestershire County Council Media Team, 01452 425093 sarah.wood@gloucestershire.gov.uk

18th November 2009