Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service’s specialist extrication squad has earned the opportunity to compete internationally after claiming victory at a premier UK rescue competition.
The team, working alongside colleagues from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service, outperformed all other entrants in the Heavy Rescue Challenge segment of the UKRO National Challenge held in Essex.
The competition required participants to manage a demanding scenario involving an HGV tractor unit positioned precariously atop a standard vehicle, with an injured person requiring extraction.
Securing the championship has guaranteed the squad a place at the World Rescue Challenge scheduled to take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during November.
The team operates without central funding, instead relying on contributions from regional enterprises to finance their participation in contests.
Beyond the competitive elements, the team engaged in educational sessions exploring heavy goods vehicle rescue techniques, emerging alternative fuel vehicle technologies, and autonomous driving systems developed by Waymo.