THAMES VALLEY emergency services converged on Mapledurham Lock for a dramatic live exercise last Thursday as part of Water Safety Week.

Around 300 spectators watched the real-time scenario, which involved a passenger boat colliding with a second smaller boat.

Rescue teams were dispatched to help 15 ‘casualties’ who had either fallen or jumped into the water and were drifting perilously close to a simulated weir at Mapledurham.

The Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) deployed its Water Rescue Unit, the Incident Control Unit, the Multi-role Vehicle and three fire engines to the scene of the mock disaster.

Other participating agencies included the Berkshire Lowland Search and Rescue, the National Police Air Service and the Environment Agency.

Jess James, station commander at Caversham Road Fire Station, declared the exercise a success.

He said: “All ‘casualties’ were rescued this time but sadly this isn’t always the case.

“Every year we attend numerous water-related incidents, many of which, despite our best efforts, have devastating outcomes.”

The exercise was held during Water Safety Week, an initiative that aims to promote understanding of water hazards.

Special guests at the event included Rebecca Ramsay and Mark Scaife, both of whose sons tragically drowned in water-related incidents.

Ms Ramsay started the water safety project ‘Doing It For Dylan’, named after her 13-year-old child.# “I have to say this was by far the biggest water training exercise I have ever seen,” she said on the campaign’s Facebook page.

“The team showed outstanding skills and professionalism.”

Mr James added: “I would like to thank those who stood in the cold, wind and rain and sometimes the sun to raise awareness and support our important message: Be Water Wise, Be Water Safe.”