SEAVIEW – As winter ends, South Pacific County Technical Rescue Team will once again be in the process of training new members and the standing team for surf and cliff operations.

Training is important for team readiness because rescues happen all year round. In fact, the team had three water operations in December, with the first cliff operation last year happening in March. The all-volunteer team trains as a unit twice a month, member-to-member training weekly, and most of the rescue swimmers are training daily.

With the tourist season nearing, this organization with core members having an average of 11.5 years on the team, are once more ready at a moment’s notice to help with high angle rope and surf/water rescues. The oldest member, a rescue swimmer and over the edge climber, is 64.

The South Pacific County Technical Rescue Team on the Peninsula was established in 1978 with the High Angle Rescue Division, followed by the Surf Rescue Division in the 1980s. The team’s mission has always been to provide safe rescue of persons in their community, local or tourist.

This team is like no other in the world. In fact, rescue groups from all over the globe have contacted this local group for information. As a non-profit organization they are funded through grants, contributions, and support from agencies.