The Home Affairs Minister has paid tribute to the volunteers who provide support for the Isle of Man’s major sporting and community events.
Members of the Civil Defence Corps contributed more than 420 hours of assistance during this year’s TT and were recently out in force again to provide logistics and first aid cover for the Parish Walk.
Juan Watterson MHK said: ‘The Civil Defence Corps helps us to prepare for and respond to emergencies, and contributes to the safe and successful running of many high-profile events.’
He added: ‘These volunteers devote a great deal of their own time to serving the local community, often working in extremely challenging circumstances. The role of the Civil Defence Corps was brought into sharp focus during the TT, dealing with the problems caused by the severe weather and assisting at the helicopter crash site.’
The organisation works alongside agencies such as the Constabulary, Fire and Rescue Service, Ambulance and Coastguard in a variety of emergency situations, including missing person searches and the response to severe weather events.
Minister Watterson has personally written to volunteers to thank them for their ‘extraordinary efforts’. ‘The commitment and professionalism shown by our volunteers is another example of the Isle of Man’s outstanding community spirit,’ he said.
The Civil Defence Corps responded during the heavy rain and storm force winds on the Monday of TT Practice Week, helping visiting campers and performing welfare checks in the days that followed.
Volunteers also provided assistance when a helicopter crashed in high winds in the Baldwin Valley near to the 33rd Milestone, securing the scene from the time of the incident on Saturday until Monday morning, performing a search of the crash site and helping to remove wreckage.