LISTEN - Foyle Search and Rescue involved in 338 incidents in 2017

by Gráinne Connolly

During 2017, Foyle Search and Rescue volunteers dedicated over 17,000 hours of unpaid service to the local community. 

Throughout that period, the charity was involved in a total of 338 incidents, which is up by 45% on the previous year. 

Volunteers also rescued 17 people from the river and were involved with returning the bodies of 6 people to their families. 

There were 129 instances where distressed people were taken away from the river's edge or bridges, and a further 186 people who they thought may have needed their help, and if so were signposted to an appropriate agency for further help and guidance. 

Foyle Search and Rescue's Swift Water teams also provided support to the statutory agencies in August during the flash flooding in the city. 

From the charity was established in 1993, 367 people have been rescued directly from the river and they've helped in excess of 3,231 potentially suicidal people. 

Through the direct intervention of volunteers during duty nights and emergency call outs, sadly 135 bodies have been recovered of people who have lost their lives in the river. 

Pat Carlin, Foyle Search and Rescue's Education and Media Officer says all their hard work over the past 25 years wouldn't have been possible without the continued generosity of both the local community and statutory agencies: 

Mr Carlin also says they look forward to a very eventful year in 2018, during which they will be recognising the 25th year of providing an effective suicide prevention and water rescue service to the local community in the North West.