The rear view showing the equipment stowed in the rear and the roof rack holding a lightweight stretcher.

In this action shot RAF SAR helicopter “Rescue 137” is seen airlifting a casualty from a road accident. It takes off from the A87 in Scotland and travels to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness. Many other road-going emergency vehicles can be seen assisting.

Q164 JBV is one of two Hagglund BV 206s that are operated by Bay Search and Rescue at Morecambe Bay, Cumbria. These tracked articulated vehicles can cope with extremely boggy conditions, and replaced a hovercraft that was used in the large tidal bay. The Haggs can travel up to 52 km/h on the road and 3 km/h on water.

K469 AHG This is the second Hagglund operated by Bay SAR. It is fitted with a different trailer to the one above, this time having equipment storage and a crane. It is fitted with a Mercedes-Benz 3-litre diesel engine, which when combined with the tracked wheels can climb slopes up to 45 degrees.

D742 YFG Bay SAR also operate this Land Rover which can tow a trailer with a rib.

Wiltshire Search and Rescue (WILSAR) operate two of these folding cycles. They are Swiss Bike LXs by Montague and due to the hinge below the seat can easily be transported in the back of a car or van. The bikes will be used in urban and rural locations for spotting missing people.

HX07 BBK is an Iveco Daily that is used by Hampshire SAR as an incident control vehicle. It isn’t fitted with any emergency warning equipment.

Here are two of SARA’s emergency rescue boats in action.

This is a Land Rover Defender that is used by Severn Area Rescue Association and a SAR ambulance. It is fitted with blue flashing lights, amber beacons and an ambulance-style colour-scheme.

This is a LDV 200 Pilot van that is also used by SARA for emergency rescue work.

This is an example of the colour-scheme used by Royal Navy rescue helicopters. They are part of the fleet air arm and are based at RNAS Culdrose in Cornwall and Prestwick in Scotland.

This vessel, Knight Errant Venturer, is used by Venturers Serach & Rescue. This organisation is run for teenagers and operates in the Solent to help people and animals in danger or distress.

P737 WGG is a Mercedes Benz Sprinter van that is used by Trossachs SAR team in Scotland. It was donated by Strathclyde Fire & Rescue after being removed from front line services with them. It can carry up to eight search and rescue dogs and is used at incidents across Strathcylde and at major incidents anywhere in Scotland.

M547 UFS Based at MOD Forthside in Stirling, this ex-Scottish Ambulance Service Renault Master ambulance belongs to Trossachs SAR. It is kitted out with ambulance equipment and is used for on-site first aid, as well as transporting personnel to incidents.

TCZ 5218 This Northern Ireland-registered Land Rover Defender is used for SAR work. Notice the bespoke enclosed roof rack for equipment.



The rear view of the same Land Rover.

In this action shot a Royal Navy SAR Sea King helicopter has landed to transfer a patient to a waiting Scottish Ambulance Service emergency ambulance.

M644 LBU This Land Rover is used by Cornwall Search and Rescue Team.



The rear view of the same Land Rover.

NK03 AXJ is an Iveco van used as a mobile control unit by the Teesdale and Weardale Search and Rescue Team. The side door provides access to the control area where there is room for two controllers and five personnel. Additionally, the awning can be extend to provide a weatherproof tem briefing room or to provide multi casualty care.



The rear of the van is used for storage of equipment an is separate to the control area. It hold a variety of medical, climbing ,search and rescue equipment as well as a generator for power and a compressor to extend the vehicles communication mast which is fitted to the right hand side of the van.

VN52 XPB This is a double-exposure photograph of a Vauxhall Combo diesel van used by the SAR company Sebev. It is used as an Incident Support Unit and carries pop-up shelters for major incidents, as well as a generator, floodlights and fire extinguishers among other things.

R496 MKO This Iveco Daily is also used by Sebev. It is an Incident Control Unit which is fitted with a hydraulic mast, internal control area with radios and computer mapping system. The rear compartment holds rescue equipment including fire extinguishers, medical equipment, life jackets, generator, cones and more. It is liveried in red and yellow battenburg markings.

M667 CVC Here is a Land Rover Defender belonging to ‘Global Rescue Services’. It is liveried as a Search & Rescue Team vehicle and has blue flashing lights fitted.



The rear view. The roof rack also has a top-box for weatherproof storage of equipment. The familiar spare wheel has been removed from the back door.

L337 PRA This SAR Land Rover Discovery has minimal livery and is fitted with blue flashing lights on the roof and front grille.

This is a ‘Severn Area Rescue Association’ Land Rover Discovery TDi. It is stationed at Beachley and is mainly used at marine incidents. SARA provides in-shore rescue boat and land search services for the Severn Estuary and River Severn.

Another of their vehicles is this Landrover 110 (long wheel base). It is stationed at and used around Sharpness.

This picture shows members of Trossachs Search & Rescue Team in an eight-wheeled off-road vehicle. Even the SAR dogs have matching hi-viz orange overalls.



Here is the team Landrover in the sort of terrain it is designed for. In the foreground is a team member and canine assistant. The team are not mountain rescue personnel but carry out most of their work at low level and at disaster-type incidents.



G263 EOL A close-up shot of the team G-reg Landrover. There is lots of space to carry personnel and equipment in the vehicles, on the roof and even on the front bumper. Thanks to Trossachs SAR for supplying these three pictures.

Here is a vehicle used by the North of Tyne Search and Rescue Team. The Ford Transit is large enough to carry lots of equipment and people around narrow roads and off-road tracks.



A second North of Tyne SRT vehicle, this time a Land Rover.

Now we have a look inside a Search and Rescue van. Lots of climbing equipment can be seen but unfortunately no room for a patient to lie down.

Here a RN rescue Sea King (Rescue 177) is joined by a yellow RAF rescue Sea King (Rescue 122) from RAF Valley, Anglesey. It is very rare to see both services’ helicopters together.

A RN Sea King Helicopter at Bristol Harbour.

The helicopter winches a simulated casualty to safety.

This RN Sea King Helicopter is from RNAS Cauldrose.



The other side of the aircraft.

Below the helicopter are an RAF Mountain Rescue Land Rover from RAF Leeming and an Across Jumbulance for transporting terminally ill patients on holiday (Across is a charity). The pictures were taken on Sunday 30/01/00 at the start of the ‘Across the Roof of Britain Walk’.

Here a RAF Search and Rescue Sea King helicopter approaches in a cloudless sky.

As the same heli comes in to land among some houses, the winchman looks out to check for any obstructions.

A RAF rescue crew transfer a patient to their yellow Sea King helicopter before rushing them to hospital.

A look inside a RAF Sea King search and rescue helicopter.

A RAF Sea King helicopter preparing for take off from a York hospital.



The take off. It is carrying a baby in an incubator unit to a hospital in the Midlands.



The Sea King heads off into the distance.

A RAF Westland S61 Sea King HAR3, renowned for their role as search and rescue helicopters, over the North Sea.

Here is another rescue Sea King in a scenic Lake District picture.