Wiltshire rescue volunteers to take on final training in Kosovo

Ten volunteers have been training to become International Response Team Members

After two years of training, 10 volunteers with a Wiltshire search and rescue charity are almost ready to help out in disaster zones around the world.

Volunteers with Serve On undertake two years of training in Chilmark to become International Response Team Members.

Their last hurdle is a a gruelling five-day exercise in Kosovo.

If they pass, they will be ready to be deployed alongside urban search and rescue volunteers in the event of overseas disaster.

Dan Cooke, director of operations, explained that volunteers need to work well under pressure

Serve On has 60 trained rescuers who have reported to hurricanes and other similar disasters for more than 20 years.

Most recently, the team helped during the devastating earthquakes in 2023 Turkey-Syria earthquakes.

Dan Cooke, director of operations, said volunteers trained at a "world-class" exercise site in Chilmark, which prepared them for disaster rescue.

"It's hard living. It's extremely uncertain. You need to be able to work with your team well under pressure," said Mr Cooke.

"But also, there is that bit that our mission is about human beings. So you have to be good with humans."

The volunteers will head to Kosovo for an intense five day assessment

Serve On instructor Laura Edwards said a good rescuer is someone who can be calm under pressure, who is able to make clear and strategic decisions in a high stress environment.

Will Wingfield, from Suffolk, works as a crisis manager for the National Grid, is one of the current recruits. He said he was inspired by the recent efforts in Turkey in 2023.

Will Wingfield says he hopes to be able to help those in "desperate" situations

"The opportunity to help people in those desperate situations - I'm hoping that I can do the same one day," said Mr Wingfield.

Thomas Skaczkowski, a gas engineer from Bath said the international rescue training was a rewarding experience.

Tomasz Skaczkowski said he has become a "better person" because of his training

"Every time I come back from the training I am a better person. I am more patient with my kids, with my wife. It's great here," he said.

Mr Cooke said the final assessment in Kosovo starting on 25 April will "put them through their paces from start to finish".