 PERSONAL
STORIES
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By Rob
Eedle Station Officer
I started with The Inshore Rescue Service back in 1985, virtually from
the service鈥檚 inception, as a result of the much-acclaimed Garden Festival.
I started as a lowly crewman along with about 15 staff on each shift
cycle鈥ow, my duties include the day-to-day management - in conjunction
with the Senior Operations Officer and Chief Officer- of a fully operational
24 hr, 365 day a year Maritime Search and Rescue facility. 
Since those early days, I鈥檝e seen a lot of changes. Within the service
there鈥檚 been the loss of staff through funding , and ever increasing
paperwork! On the river itself, there have been several major emergencies
and tragedies.. the aircraft incident at Liverpool John Lennon Airport,
with the loss of 5 lives, in June 2000; the Tranmere Oil Terminal spill
in 1986, which contaminated the Wirral coastline and killed and injured
birds and sea life. I attended both incidents and even though you train
for the worst it鈥檚 still difficult to take in the depth of devastation
and loss of life.
There was an incident one Halloween, a small boat was adrift in the
Mersey. We were tasked to ascertain if the people on board were OK.
as they were drifting towards the Liverpool Stage with the ebbing tide.
What we found when we arrived was quite funny.. two people in fancy
dress, with their engine broken down, out for a night鈥檚 fishing over
the midnight period. 
They were dressed as Batman and a skeleton, which we nicknamed "bonehead".
We fixed their boat and then they were off again, fishing and keeping
Gotham City safe!"
We鈥檝e been involved in all sorts of scenarios over the years, but believe
me, it鈥檚 nothing like "Baywatch". .. I wish it was!
听
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Tell
us your stories of the river
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Spotted
any rare species amongst the waves? Let us know!
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Photographs
or sketches...
Send us your pictures!
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听
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