When the floods hit Cockermouth, Leyland in November, UK based SIT (Specialised Inflatable Technology Ltd) supplied Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) at short notice with state of the art inflatable rescue craft, deployed to assist in the rescue operation.

After Merseyside Fire & Rescue Service (MFRS) was scrambled to assist with house-to-house rescues, it desperately needed seaworthy inflatable craft - and fast. Luckily, MFRS already had a new ResQcraft from SIT and another was due to be delivered for testing. SIT went into overdrive and completed the ResQcraft within just 12 hours; and testing turned into real live rescuing as MFRS set about saving people trapped in their homes.

These new ResQcraft - supplied to MFRS with 40hp outboard motors – can carry up to 8 victims and made several successful rescues. John Lloyd Young - boat instructor and front line fire fighter - said the SIT designed and built ResQcraft; "performed extremely well in testing conditions. They were just what we needed and a number of people were rescued from their homes. The main high street was under several feet of water and so we were able to deploy the engines too. One of the boats was ordered for trial purposes and these conditions certainly put it to the test! The results...excellent performance all round."

Leyland based SIT (Specialised Inflatable Technology Ltd) produces a range of rescue inflatables designed for the Emergency and Rescue Services.  These include sleds, paths, rafts, boats and air jacks that have all been developed to meet the requirements of rescuers in the current climate of high flood risks and the need to reach casualties in the fastest possible time. SIT’s sister company MST (Marine Specialised Technology Ltd) designs and builds larger RIBs and Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service recently took delivery of a new 10.5 metre MST RIB which operates out of Liverpool.

For further information about SIT and its products, please contact
Chris Chadwick:
Tel: +44 (0) 1772 459 143
Mob: +44 (0) 7743 955 983
Fax: +44 (0) 1772 457 526
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