A further five new expert volunteers have recently completed their in-service training to join Guernsey’s St John Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) Team.
The extensive three day training course consisted of learning rescue skills such as extracting a casualty from rocks and working alongside the St John Cliff Rescue Team and the St John Marine Ambulance “Flying Christine III”.
David Du Jardin, Matthew Copperwaite, Antony Leach, Andrew Bell and Divon Crouse have a wealth of boating knowledge between them. They have spent a vast amount of time at sea and bring with them a lot of experience in their various areas of expertise.
Due to his career as a professional fisherman, David Du Jardin has spent much of his time at sea. He has skippering experience and is also a qualified open water diver. David also has a ‘Safety at Sea’ qualification, ‘First Person on Scene’ first aid qualification and holds a VHF Radio Licence.
As a Guernsey Police Officer, Matthew Copperwaite has attended a variety of marine training. He has a Royal Yachting (RYA) Sea Survival qualification and has previously owned his own leisure boats, which has led to a good knowledge of the seas surrounding the islands. Matthew is also a First Aid Instructor for both the Guernsey Police and St John Training Services, and has received enhanced First Aid Training for his role as a Police Medic.
Divon Crouse has not spent the same amount of time at sea as some of the other expert volunteers, however he brings with him a new set of skills through his career as a Firefighter. These skills include water rescue and Divon is a trained First Aider.
As a small boat owner, Andrew Bell has a good knowledge of the seas around Guernsey, especially the east and south east coast and also the waters surrounding Herm, which is a small island located 3 miles off Guernsey’s East Coast and which forms part of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Andrew has passed his Inshore Rescue Day Skipper Theory Course and has a First Aid at Work qualification.
Antony Leach brings a wide range of knowledge and experience with him, he has attained the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) Day Skipper qualification, RYA National Powerboat Certificate (level2), Guernsey Pilotage qualification and holds a VHF Marine Band Radio Operator Licence. Antony is an experienced canoeist and has Advanced First Aid qualifications.
All the above expert volunteers are now operational members for St John and ready to respond to any incidents in the surrounding waters of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and smaller offshore Islands.
