MEMBERS of Port Macquarie Marine Rescue were put to the ultimate test during an intense simulation training exercise on May 27.
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The call was sent out to the crew at 5.30am where they rushed for what was a unit commander’s operational assessment on the Hastings River.
The crew, skippers and radio base were not aware of the simulation until they were called to action. When they arrived they found two vessels had collided in the water.
"There were multiple people in the water who swam themselves to Pelican Island," Greg Davies, unit commander of Port Macquarie Marine Rescue, explained.
"It ended up being a retrieval operation and had many people with lots of injuries from glass in their eyes, to missing limbs and broken ribs.
"Our people had to speak to the water police in Sydney and organise ambulances. It was a big operation."
Mr Davies was pleased with how his unit responded while saying there is always room for improvement.
"It started at about 5.30am and went for three hours. Everyone went really well," he said.
"There is always room for improvement but they reacted quite well from the moment they got the call out.”
Crews acted swiftly, considering they were all at home sleeping. There were 12 people acting as patients for the crew of nine.
"It gives me a chance of seeing where we are with our training and skills, and seeing what areas we have to improve on," Mr Davies said.
"There was a lot of running back and forwards, dealing with patients and using the defibrillator. It was a big exercise and they handled it well. I was pleased."