News / Local lifeboat volunteers complete training
TWO NEW volunteer crew members at the Lerwick lifeboat station have had a vital part of their crew training funded by The Lloyd’s Register Educational Trust (The LRET).
Grant Masson, 21 and Tommy Goudie, 48, both from Lerwick, completed their training at the RNLI College in Poole.
A key part of that course is the sea survival element, which enables new volunteer crew to be trained in a variety of crucial subjects including:
- how to ‘abandon ship’ with a 4m jump into water;
- team survival swimming and coping in a liferaft in simulated darkness;
- how to deal with fires aboard lifeboats;
- how to right a capsized inshore lifeboat;
- and the importance of lifejackets.
The training was funded by The LRET, an independent charity that is giving £1 million over five years to fund the sea survival element of the RNLI trainee crew course.
Masson said: “My father used to help out at Fraserburgh lifeboat station when I was younger and I think joining the crew had been in the back of my mind ever since.
“As soon as I had the opportunity I joined the crew at Lerwick, which is now my local station. I am so pleased to have been given the opportunity to go on the course; the lifesaving skills I have developed are invaluable.”
Paul Jennings, RNLI divisional inspector for Scotland said the support from the LRET was “hugely important”.
“This training is central to allowing the RNLI and its volunteers to stay safe while on rescue missions. It equips volunteers with essential sea survival skills; providing them with the courage, poise and self-confidence to save lives even in the most perilous seas,” he said.
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