Cornwall Fire & Rescue Service Newsdesk

at 16/07/2

Cornwall County Fire Brigade is extremely proud to be the first fire service in the country to receive the Higgins and Langley Memorial Award in Swiftwater Rescue.

The Brigade and fifty-three firefighters have received the award for their excellence in water rescue techniques at the Boscastle flooding last year.

The Higgins and Langley Memorial Awards honour outstanding achievement in the technical rescue discipline of swiftwater and flood rescue. They are not heroism awards, but rather recognize preparedness, teamwork, and a job well done, often under extreme conditions, where training is vital to the success of rescue missions, as well as the safety of rescue personnel and the victims who are being rescued.

The awards were established in 1993 by members of the Swiftwater Rescue Committee of the National Association for Search and Rescue (NASAR) in honor of Earl Higgins, a writer and filmmaker who lost his life in 1980 while rescuing a child who was swept down the flood-swollen Los Angeles River, and Jeffrey Langley, a Los Angeles County Fire Department firefighter-paramedic, who lost his life in a helicopter incident in 1993.

Chief Fire Officer Matt Littmoden said: “I am extremely proud that Cornwall County Fire Brigade has received this award, and anyone not mentioned by name should recognise their contribution via the Brigade’s award. We are the first UK organisation to ever have received the award which makes it even more prestigious.
He cont: “The brigade has received the ‘International Award’ which recognises individuals or teams outside the United States that merit consideration for contributions or specific incidents in the field of swiftwater/flood rescue”

Flooding is the leading cause of weather related death worldwide. Rescuers who lack proper swiftwater/flood rescue training and equipment are at risk of serious injury and loss of life.

Cornwall County Fire Brigade introduced a Water Safety Strategy in 2001 which encompassed a comprehensive training package and essential equipment both for the protection of the public, as well as the safety of their personnel.
Those who have received certificates are:
Cornwall County Fire Brigade – Corporate Award
From Delabole Fire Station:
Station Officer Mark Saltern,
Sub Officer Ken Goodman
Firefigher Richard Bluett
Firefighter Michael Davey
Firefighter Shane Trewene
Firefighter David Broad
From Launceston Fire Station:
Sub Officer Roger Willis
Leading Firefighter Andrew Oak
Firefighter Peter Penhorwood
Firefighter Michael Vidler
Firefighter Graham Wyatt
Firefighter David Hill
Leading Firefighter Karl Hockridge
Firefighter Richard Wilson
Firefighter Charles Spettigue
Firefighter Jonathan Bruton
Firefighter Nigel Bickle
Firefighter Roy Hooper
From Bude Fire Station
Station Officer Daryl Wellington
Leading Firefighter Steffan Jones
Leading Firefighter Matthew Wonnacott
Firefighter Gareth Clark
Firefighter Benjamin Reynolds
Firefighter Aaron Troke
Firefighter Mark Blatchford
Firefighter Darron Vodden
Firefighter Jason Garvie
Firefighter Alan Hardy
Firefighter Grant Walkey
Firefighter Peter Garrad
Leading Firefighter Leigh Oulton
Firefigher Simon Heard
From Bodmin Fire Station
Sub Officer Barry Stevens
Leading Firefighter Nigel Honey
Firefighter Richard Helleur
Firefighter Dick Emery
Firefighter Rob Carhart
From St Austell Fire Station
Sub Officer Bob Preston
Firefighter Andy Reynolds
Firefighter Matthew Grubb
Firefighter Nick Jones
Firefigher Richard Simpson
Various Officers:
Station Officer Pete Robinson
Station Officer Mark Hewitt
Station Officer Stewart Whitworth
Station Officer Nigel Vincent
Assistant Divisional Officer Chris Rickett
Assistant Divisional Officer Mark Boeck
Divisional Officer Colin Hatch
Divisional Officer John Sweeney
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Ted Simpson
Deputy Chief Fire Officer Steve Webster
Chief Fire Officer Matt Littmoden

Other(s) who received the Award as part of the CCFB team:

Jez Hunter – Rig International
He is the training provider for Cornwall County Fire Brigade in swift water rescue and was called to the incident to assist