Energy, regeneration and services specialist, ENGIE, helped firefighters carry out essential training in Kendal.
Using a crane at the centre of a £15.2 million extra care scheme in Oxenholme, which ENGIE is building on behalf of Housing 21 – the site team supported Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service in carrying out an intensive evening of training for their crews.
ENGIE project manager Ian Reynolds was a pretend casualty and White Watch from Kendal Fire Station simulated a rescue from the top of the 25m crane.
Strapped to a stretcher, Ian was lowered down and supported by the 26-strong team, as they worked through their systems and practiced the process they need to go through if they needed to attend a real-life crane emergency in the future.
Ian said: “I was delighted that the ENGIE site team could support Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service in conducting what is vital training for their crews.
“There’s not many opportunities for them to conduct practice drills on cranes as big as the one we have at Oxenholme, so we were happy to support.
“As an experienced climber, I do have a head for heights but I must admit it is quite scary being strapped into a stretcher so high up!
“But the team from the fire and rescue service were absolutely great and model professionals, it was brilliant to be involved with the real local heroes of Kendal.”
Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service’s crew manager Craig Hall said: “We would like to thank ENGIE for providing us with the opportunity to use their facilities to carry out our maintenance of skills training. “
