Guernsey’s St John Ambulance & Rescue Service is on standby to support colleagues in Jersey after authorities there declared a major incident following an explosion in St Hellier the early hours of this morning.

Guernsey’s ambulance service has a robust mutual aid agreement in place with the other Channel Islands and South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust for such events and promptly activated internal processes in response to the incident in Jersey.

A number of Guernsey ambulance clinicians have been made available to assist the States of Jersey Ambulance Service and the St John marine ambulance ‘Flying Christine III’ with a volunteer boat crew is on standby to transport medical teams to Jersey if required.

Well established contingencies are in place as part of the emergency planning and preparedness plans to ensure normal ambulance operations in the Bailiwick of Guernsey can be maintained and the Ambulance & Rescue Service can continue business as usual while offering support to Jersey.

Guernsey’s Chief Ambulance Officer is in regular communication with Jersey’s Chief Ambulance Officer and our thoughts are with the community of Jersey at this difficult time.