Heat is on as Shields Ferry recruits are put through their training

TRAINEES who are getting set to work on the Shields Ferry have gone through a firefighting course to get them prepared to work on the River Tyne.

- OWEN YOUNGER

Shields McDowell undertaking at South Shields

The two newest recruits on the service had to undertake a fully immersive training programme, even tackling a real fire.

Louise McDowell and Nathalie Zafirkovska took on the task as part of their training to join the Ferry crew, providing them vital skills for dealing with difficult situations, one of which could be a fire on board.

Nexus has stressed that safety is its top priority, putting the trainees through the firefighting course as part of the boat licence qualification.

The training was carried out at South Shields Marine School on the bank of the River Tyne. The facility has a fire ground with a specially enclosed facility for trainees to practice firefighting and casualty handling in a maritime setting.

The scenario saw both Louise and Nathalie wearing breathing apparatus to enter a bespoke three-storey steel structure, similar to the inside of a ship, to put out a controlled fire that had been set inside by instructors.