Volunteers from Search and Rescue Assistance in Disasters (SARAID) Community Resilience Team have received Chief Fire Officer’s commendation for their life-saving actions.

At the meeting of Avon Fire Authority on Friday, 1st December, individual awards were presented by Chief Fire Officer, Mick Crennell, to Sherry Coles from Warmley and Andy Gealer from Nailsea, as well as a collective award to the team.

Around midnight on 28th September, Sherry, along with another member of the team, were undertaking a fresher’s week river safety patrol in Bath when they came across a young man in distress on the river path.

In a calm and reassuring manner, Sherry began talking to the man and gained his trust before passing him into the care of the ambulance service.

On a river patrol just two days later on 30th September, at approximately 12.30 a.m., Andy and members of the Community Resilience Team came across a woman who had entered the water, was in distress and suffering from hypothermia.

Andy conducted a land-based rescue and retrieved her from the water. Whilst this was happening, the Community Resilience Team called the emergency services, who then took care of her.

The CFO praised Sherry and Andy, who like all members of the CRT are volunteers. The team also received an award as a collective for their work to date.

To find out more about the Community Resilience Team, please visit: www.saraid.org/crt/