| International Rescue Corps | The International Rescue Corps is an independent front-line search and rescue organisations The IRC is a UK registered charity The charity's patron is Sir Richard Branson Enquiries: +44(0)1324-665011 http://www.intrescue.org.uk/ |
| "I’ll also be learning how to survive in a disaster zone and trying to prepare myself for the level of devastation I’ll come across" | |
Hi, my name is John Ryan and I have lived with my wife Julie in Welburn, near Malton for the last five years. I work as a Service Development Manger in the NHS, but I also have another interesting, dangerous and entirely voluntary ‘job’ that I would like to share with you – let me introduce you to the world of the International Rescue Corps, or IRC as it is known. IRC is a registered charity, manned entirely by volunteers, which specializes in Urban Search and Rescue. Our mission is to provide assistance and advice anywhere in the world. Our most recent major mission was in Pakistan in October 2005, you can find details of all our previous work at our website www.intrescue.org I've been a non operational member of the Corps for the last seven years, but now I am about to embark on a three year training course to become a fully operational member of the team. Web and audio diary
 | | Imran after being rescued |
My official training started in September and I'll be producing a web diary and audio diary throughout my training. You’ll share with me my highs and lows, fears and triumphs as I progress through our training programme over the months ahead. I’ll be covering a whole range of subjects from boatwork to helicopter safety, working in confined spaces to propping and shoring, abseiling to building collapse, first aid to communications. I’ll also be learning how to survive in a disaster zone and trying to prepare my self for the level of devastation I’ll come across as part of a rescue team. I’ll also be introducing you to other members of the Corps and hopefully you’ll feel as much apart of this special family as we all do – the work I am training for is dangerous and full of risks and it is this ‘family support’ that helps us get through the tough times. Tough times ahead And I’m sure there will be tough times ahead; I have to admit I’m not a great fan of heights, so I think I’ll find the rope work elements of training quite a challenge. I’m not sure I’m really looking forward to the underwater helicopter escape training either, but it all needs to be done and I’m sure I’ll get through. I’ll let you know in plenty of time when these bits of the training are coming up!! Having heard first hand about the work the Corps has done, in particular the fantastic rescue of three boys in the massive devastation of the earthquake in Pakistan last October, I know the time is right for me now to try and join the Operational Register of the Corps and do my bit to help. My wife Julie has been doing this for the last 15 years and it’s about time I joined her! I hope you find my training diary interesting and I know your support during the next 3 years will spur me on – if you have any questions or comments then I’ll be happy to answer them. In the meantime, wish me luck, watch out for the Corps when you see or hear about disasters, man made or natural at home or anywhere else in the world and I’ll be in touch again soon. John | 
