History of WightSAR
How It All Started
The first Lowland Rescue team on the Island was formed in 2008, shortly after a major search operation in Parkhurst Forest for a missing person who remained missing for several days. Back then Hampshire Search and Rescue covered the Island, however the transit time was several hours to get a team and control vehicle to the search site from the mainland, drastically affecting the chances of the missing person being found safe, so effectively HantSAR were only called to long running incidents and the police usually struggled on with their own resources.
After this search, Hampshire Search & Rescue (HantSAR) decided to form an Initial Response Team (IRT) here on the Island which consisted of around 7-8 volunteers. The value of this new search asset was immediately recognised by Hampshire Constabulary and the relationship has been growing ever since.
Three years later in 2011 the HantSAR IRT on the island lead by our present Chairman, Dean Terrett, consulted with HantSAR and Lowland Rescue regarding the team obtaining independent status. Over the previous three years our growth was quite constrained so independence brought the ability to form an identify on the Island and would mean we could fundraise solely for the Island team and without any constraint as well as forming partnerships and alliances.
An audit was carried out by Lowland Rescue, and it was determined that the unit had made such progress that they would support the decision to form an independent unit with probationary status.
WightSAR was born.
The work was not all done. To achieve full independent status the team would need to expand significantly, this is to ensure it would be able to stand alone without external support for typical incidents seen on the Island.
A recruitment drive followed which saw another 12+ members added, these new recruits underwent Search Technician Training, and all passed. We raised funds over to allow us to purchase the 4 x 4 vehicle and other equipment belonging to HantSAR from them and we invested heavily in getting the team ready to go fully independent.
Just 12 months later the team were assessed and audited by the national governing body of lowland rescue (ALSAR) and were given full membership status.