Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Extrication Team triumphs at UKRO Regional Challenge
Essex firefighters have expert extrication skills and are now award winners when it comes safely removing people who are trapped.
The Essex County Fire and Rescue Service Extrication Team scooped four awards at the recent UK Rescue Organisation (UKRO) regional challenge, held at Surrey Fire and Rescue Service’s training centre in Reigate.
Competing against ten skilled teams from across the region, the Service’s team delivered an exceptional performance, securing first place overall and winning all three individual disciplines.
Award Wins:
- Best Technical: Kelvin Tuckwell, Andrew Edwards, and Kevin Bloomfield
- Best Medical Team: Jeremy Tuckwell and Alex Hough
- Best Officer in Charge: Scott Ford
- Best Overall Team: Essex County Fire and Rescue Service
The UKRO regional challenge is part of a long-standing initiative known as the Rescue Challenge Concept (RCC). These challenges provide a safe and controlled environment where rescue and trauma professionals can trial innovative techniques, evaluate new equipment, and enhance procedures that may ultimately be used in real-life emergencies.
Open to all rescue and trauma professionals, regardless of background or governance, the RCC fosters a culture of information exchange, peer learning, and constructive feedback, helping to raise operational standards across the board.
Scott Ford, said: “We would like to thank the Service for its continued support, giving us the opportunity to learn, and share new skills and techniques back into the Service.”
This achievement reflects the team's professionalism, expertise, and commitment to continuous improvement in rescue operations.
