Community Rescue Service Belfast District

We regret to inform you of the death of our friend and long-term supporter Ruby (Joseph) Colhoun who sadly passed away earlier today.
The Management and Volunteers of the Community Rescue Service extend their deepest sympathy to partner Elaine and to his family circle and many friends.

ROCK NIGHT FUNDRAISER
Looking for something to do tonight? The Ivy Bar are hosting a Rock Night with proceeds going to the Commmunity Rescue Service. Tap the link for more information bit.ly/2uQM4hU
The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!

SONAR APPEAL UPDATE
First, we would like to thank everyone who has donated to our appeal thus far. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Secondly, we would like to provide answers to some recurring questions being asked by our supporters.
... All of our equipment is insured including our side-scan sonar. Unfortunately, we have been informed by our insurers that they will not cover the loss of the equipment due to the circumstances under which it was lost (as we had to cut it loose or risk the person in the water being lost) however, we would like to thank our insurers in advance as they have told us that they will look favourably into how they can otherwise assist us given the exceptional circumstances.
We have also looked at various means by which we could hopefully locate and recover the sonar for repair however to date this has not been possible.
We thank everyone for your continuing support.
Should you wish to donate please do so by clicking on the following link bit.ly/2LuGTxK
The Community Rescue Service – helping keep our communities safe!
Belfast Live Belfast Telegraph BBC Newsline Q Radio Belfast UTV Charles Hurst Toyota
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SONAR LOST DURING DRAMATIC RESCUE
During a recent search for a missing person, the Community Rescue Service boat and Side Scan Sonar were deployed in support of our friends and colleagues in Foyle Search and Rescue when we received an urgent call to respond to a person in difficulties in the River Foyle not far from our location.
As we were the nearest rescue resource and the person was in need of immediate rescue our only option was to respond immediately and in doing so we ...unfortunately have been left without our sonar.
The person in difficulties was rescued from the river by the CRS and given immediate aid and then transferred to Foyle SAR boat and transported to an awaiting ambulance. The quick response of the CRS and Foyle SAR has undoubtably saved this person’s life and we are very pleased to hear that they are recovering well.
We now need to replace our missing sonar parts as a matter of urgency and we are launching an appeal to help us raise 28,000 pounds to allow us to continue to respond to the many requests for us to search for those missing in water across the country and to allow us to return the missing to their families and friends as soon as possible.
If you think you can help in any way we would greatly appreciate your support, and should you wish to donate please do so by clicking on the following link bit.ly/2LuGTxK
You can also contact us by sending a message to this page or by email at info@communityrescue.org
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COME AND SAY HELLO
Today our team members are out in Belfast carrying out a door collection at Homebase, Boucher Road.
Make sure to stop by and say hello to the team and drop them your spare pennies!
... The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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THANK YOU
We would like to thank the team at Alexander Mann Solutions Belfast for their kindness and support shown towards the team and the work we do.
Recently they organised a pub quiz and raised money to help us in the work we do within our communities.
... This money will go towards the day to day running costs incurred by the team for a range of things such as equipment and vehicles.
We rely on the support of the people within our communities to continue the work we do, without this support we couldn’t do what we do.
The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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BUSY NIGHT FOR OUR VOLUNTEERS
Last night our Portgleonone, Antrim and Ballymena Units were at the The Big Splash Festival in Portglenone for the Tractor and Vintage Cavalacade and Show. Our volunteers met up with the lovely Roishin McCloskey, the County Antrim finalist for the Rose of Tralee International Festival and we wish Roishin well at The Rose. Thanks to the good weather there was a massive crowd turned out to watch our volunteers carry out a water rescue display on... the River Bann.
Just as the display was ending we received a callout to the Belfast area to assist in searching for an elderly dementia sufferer. We are pleased to say that the missing person was located safe and well and returned to their family.
The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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MANY THANKS FOR YOUR HELP
We would like to thank Maine Surface Finishing for powder coating the A frame on Bravo 10 at no charge. Bravo 10 is one of our search and rescue boats and this work helps protect the boat against the elements.
We are extremely grateful for the support shown to the CRS by local businesses in helping us continue to provide our valuable service.
... To find out how Main Surface Finishing can help with your business visit their website at bit.ly/2Jx4j0w
The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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KEEPING US ON THE ROAD
We would like to thank the guys at BTS Recovery for helping us recently.
This help has ensured we remain available to assist those in need within our communities 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
... The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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COLLECTION IN BELFAST
Our Team members are out in Belfast today carrying out a door collection at the EUROSPAR NI, Donegall Road.
Make sure stop by speak to the team and drop them your spare pennies!
... The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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BUSY WEEKEND FOR THE CRS TRAINING TEAM
Volunteers from our Regional Training Team attended the Lowland Rescue National Training Weekend in Oxfordshire over the weekend providing Water Search and Rescue Awareness training to representatives from Lowland teams across the country.
On Sunday as our team prepared to attend the morning workshops we responded to a request from our LR colleagues in Oxfordshire Lowland Search and Rescue for specialist assistance to a search for a miss...ing person.
On conclusion of the search our team made their way to Holyhead for the journey home.
The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
Sean McCarry from the Community Rescue Service presented a Certificate of Recognition to Leanne Morrow, Senior Care Coordinator and Michelle McCurdy, Cate Coordinator both from Optimum Care in Coleraine.
The Certificate was awarded in recognition of the outstanding contribution made by their staff in memory of their late friend and colleague Kerry Millar.
... We extend out thanks to the management and staff of Optimum Care for their generosity.
The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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CRS VOLUNTEERS TAKE ON THE MOUNTAIN MARATHON
Stephen and Paul, two of our volunteers will take on the Mourne Mountain Marathon to help raise funds for the Community Rescue Service. The marathon takes place over the 15th and 16th September and the two guys are training hard.
If you would like to make a donation, please click on the link below. Every donation made goes directly to our work within search and rescue across NI.
... The Community Rescue Service – helping keep our communities safe!
Belfast Live Belfast Telegraph Charles Hurst Toyota
https://www.facebook.com/donate/234173517 177350/
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WE COULD USE YOUR HELP!
Do you have a spare hour here and there, and want to make good use of that spare time? Then we can use you!
All of our units across Northern Ireland are currently recruiting support team members to assist with fundraising, PR activities and other tasks!
... We only need what time you can give, and we appreciate that!
If you feel you can help, we want to hear from you :) Please pm the page or send an email to sharon@communityrescue.org
The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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TRAGIC OUTCOME TO OVERNIGHT SEARCH
CRS teams were tasked at 1.30 this morning to the Portglenone area to search for a person who it was believed had fallen into the river.
A CRS boat team were quickly on scene and recovered a person to waiting ambulance personnel. Ambulance staff assisted by CRS carried out immediate aid however we regret to inform you that the person lost their fight for life.
... The Management and Volunteers of the Community Rescue Service extend their deepest sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.
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THANK YOU
We’d like to give a huge thank you to the team at Storm Xccessories in Swatragh for kindly sponsoring and installing some items to our brand new sponsored Hilux Invincible from Charles Hurst Toyota.
We rely on the support of local businesses and we’re very excited that Storm Xccessories have helped us out on this occasion!
... For all your car accessories - you know where you go!
The Community Rescue Service - helping keep our communities safe!
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WORKING HARD IN OUR COMMUNITIES
Our volunteers have been extremely busy over the weekend.
On Friday night volunteers from Coleraine and Ballymoney provided safety for the local festival Duck Race in Armoy village before having to retrieve over 1300 ducks from the River Bush. Other volunteers assisted the medical teams at Belsonic in Belfast. Our safety patrols continued in central Belfast around the River Lagan.
... Saturday seen Coleraine and Ballymoney volunteers provide water safety on the River Bann at the Armed Forces Day in Coleraine and for the 24hr Yacht Race at Coleraine Yacht Club. Our volunteers in Strabane worked alongside the SAFE group in providing assistance at the Strajamba Music Festival. Others were again at Belsonic in Ormeau Park and our safety patrols were present until the early hours in central Belfast.
In the early hours of Sunday our volunteers were deployed to assist in searching for two missing people. Around 1.30am volunteers were deployed to the Craigavon area – the missing person was located safe and well as teams were en route. At 2.45am volunteers were deployed to County Down to search for an elderly dementia sufferer. The missing person was located and recovered by CRS personnel to a waiting ambulance for transport to hospital.
On Sunday our volunteers completed the safety cover at the Coleraine Yacht Club 24hr race on the River Bann.
Teams were called out to assist in searching for a missing person in the south Tyrone area in mid-afternoon. As teams were en route, police located a body believed to be that of the missing person. We extend our sympathy to the family and friends of the deceased.
We thank our volunteers for their hard work and dedication in giving up their time to help ensure the safety of others.
The Community Rescue Service – helping keep our communities safe!
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