Cavern 'disaster'
THE most famous Stone Age monument in Britain was transformed into a disaster zone yesterday as 100 emergency services personnel took part in a major cave collapse exercise.
Police, firefighters and Devon Cave Rescue Organisation volunteers had to 'rescue' 14 people including the dead, injured and walking wounded in a staged underground catastrophe at Kents Cavern.
Code-named Exercise Bedrock, the mock-up was carried out to test the contingency plans of the emergency services in case of a major incident at underground locations across Devon and Cornwall, such as caves, mines and industrial sites.
Students from Duchy College, Cornwall, who are studying rescue and emergency management, were drafted in to play the parts of the accident victims, with some being carried away on spinal boards while dummies laid out to resemble dead bodies were taken to a make-shift mortuary.
"It has been really interesting getting involved and it's been a learning process for everyone, including us," said student Thomas Ussher, 21.
The Buckfastleigh-based Devon Cave Rescue Organisation also played an instrumental part.
About 14 volunteers, all of whom have expert caving knowledge and gave up their daily work to be there, were involved and were led by rescue controller Jon Whiteley.
It was their job to co-ordinate the underground rescue of casualties with their fire service counterparts.
He said: "One of the key things for us was to build on how we work with other agencies. It is about learning more about how we co-work with the emergency services in underground situations.
"Although we do our own training exercises, getting involved in this is fantastic for us because we get the opportunity to learn more about our procedures and get feedback from our partners."
The caves are Britain's oldest scheduled ancient monument, with English Heritage designation dating back to 1957.
The simulation was overseen by Sgt Mike Rose, based at police headquarters in Middlemoor, Exeter.
He said: "This is the first major underground exercise we have put on and it has gone very well.
"We are used to working with all of our partner agencies but not in an underground situation.
"We have identified areas where we could formalise arrangements and will be taking away a lot of what we have learned today."
A nationally important archaeological site, the caves have been designated Site of Special Scientific Interest.
The exercise was carried out within the Show Cave area during the tourist attraction's annual two-week closure.
Kents Cavern owner Nick Powe said: "The health and safety of our staff and visitors is our number one priority, so when I was offered the chance of hosting such a large scale exercise at the cavern I didn't hesitate.
"I think a lot of people are always surprised to learn our caves are in such an urban area — they are normally situated in rural parts of the world — but for this very reason it lent itself well to hosting this exercise."
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by Dan H.H., Highlands
Saturday, January 17 2009, 4:43PM
“This excercise was very useful, the enviroment is ailen to most! It allows the emergency services to get to know the vast spaces below if a actual incident was to occur, the incident management and muti-agency approach to resolve the situation should be easier to control with past knowlege of each services capabilities and roles played. The services practice daily for incidents and and casualties on the streets, pubs, clubs and rural areas, however not often underground under the comfort zone for usual responces”
by HB, cornwall
Thursday, January 15 2009, 9:39PM
“fair enough-but theres no harm in practicing wherever a sight is available,we would soon complain if our emergency service personell were out of practice!”
by I wonder, Marldon
Thursday, January 15 2009, 9:02PM
“If they were after collapsed buildings and tunnels etc as you've described, then the services could have used the Fire Training College at Morton on the Marsh where there are collapsed buildings and everything else you've described and where that special rescue group have no doubt already practiced. Where was all the rubble, collapsed structures, metal work etc at Kents? It doesnt represent a collapsed building or tunnel. Its a tourist cave with no other significant dangers. So what, its dark!”
by HB, Duchy College Cornwall
Thursday, January 15 2009, 8:25PM
“The collapse of a building or rail tunnel in the event of a terrorist attack(such as the collapses that occured during the London Bombings) is a very real possibility in todays world.The Rescue and Emergency services need to practice for such events in order to be prepared and have a reliable and well practiced contingency plan in place.The cave location that operation Bedrock took place at is very similar to a collapsed underground train tunnel,or collapsed building.Although the emergency services in the South West do not and hopefully will not have to deal with terrorist attacks.It is a incident,i believe all personell working in the rescue and emergency sector should be trained to work at such incidents.In particular The special operations, Fire and Rescue team, based in Devon and Somerset, who are called to assist at incidents all over the UK, and so are very likely to be called to major incidents such as a terrosist attack in the future.Teams like these need training,and practice based around such incidents,the training scenario at Kents Cavern on Tuesday was a very worth while exercise. I hope that this helps to answer your query.”
by J.R, Duchy college
Thursday, January 15 2009, 8:11PM
“I think the exercise was very worth while i am sure everyone would complain if they didnt have the contigency plan in place and we had a disater such as a collapsed building or collapsed mine as there are a fair few in the south west! The police and fire crews and ambulance services are all here to protect the public and it was an honour to work with them for the day as a body!”