Water Rescue Training Exercise at Llys-y-frân Lake

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crews took part in a large-scale water rescue training exercise at Llys-y-frân Lake on Monday, January 19^th.  The lake, set in the foothills of the Preseli Mountains and spanning more than 200 acres, provided an ideal environment for the scenario-based exercise.

Specialist teams from Carmarthen, Haverfordwest and Milford Haven Fire Stations attended the training session, each equipped with swift water rescue capabilities.  The exercise simulated a serious incident involving a collision between two boats, resulting in multiple casualties dispersed across the lake and along its shoreline.

To create a realistic training environment, mannequins of different sizes and weights were placed at various points around the site, some floating on the surface, others submerged, and several positioned along the water’s edge.  Crews were tasked with locating and recovering these casualties under conditions designed to mirror the challenges of a real emergency.

Boat crews navigated the lake to search the water and retrieve casualties, while wading teams were deployed to areas inaccessible by boat, combing the shoreline and the shallows.  Throughout the exercise, Firefighters practised essential skills including coordinated search techniques, casualty handling and effective communication with the Incident Commander and fellow crew members.

Held across the afternoon and into the evening, the session provided the opportunity for Wholetime and On-Call Firefighters to participate and put their skills into practice.