Melness coastguards enlist Tongue pupils' help to search for missing person in mock exercise

Pupils at a north coast primary school have been given a taste of what it is like to serve as a coastguard.

Members of Melness coastguard unit visited Tongue Primary School and Early Learning Centre earlier this month.

They set up a mock exercise for pupils to take part in – helping to search for a missing person in nearby woodland.

Principal teacher Dee Roberts said: “The coastguards needed our help to look for someone missing in the woods and we got a real feel for what a rescue would be like.

“All groups were able to locate the casualty and everyone returned safely.”

Ms Roberts added: “They also explained their equipment to us and let us look around their vehicle.

“The coastguard team had been on a real rescue the night before and still came to visit us despite their lack of sleep, which in our eyes makes them all true heroes.”

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