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- VIDEO: Action from this year's Exercise Springflood
Slideshow of Exercise Springflood 2008.

Coastguard units from Craster, Amble, Blyth, Newbiggin, Boulmer and Seahouses, along with search and rescue dogs and their handlers, a Sea King from RAF Boulmer, lifeboats and rescue craft came together last Sunday to help find nine casulties who were stranded in the icy North Sea or scattered around the coastline and Coquet Island.

The casulties – some with burns, others with broken bones and serious injuries – had been plunged into difficulty after two light aircraft had had a minor collision and dropped into the sea off Amble.

All were found within three-and-a-half hours. Of the nine, one died, the others survived.

Luckily though, it was just a simulated crash.

Exercise Springflood, the second of its kind, was intended to test working arrangements between the services in the event of a nautical emergency and to give all concerned the chance to try out their first aid skills and search and rescue techniques.

The vital simulation, which mirrored real-life as closely as possible, saw Coastguard teams comb the dunes, aided by Search and Rescue Dogs Association (SARDA) dogs and their handlers.

Amble lifeboats – the all-weather and inshore craft – and Boulmer Volunteer rescue boat conducted a search of the sea near Coquet Island, while coastguards searched the island.

Lifeboat crews worked with the RAF helicopter to retrieve casualties from the sea – plastic drums were used to simulate a person.

Ken Henderson, Amble Coastguard station officer, said he hoped all the personnel involved had learnt from the exercise.

He added: "At this time of year at the start of the summer season it is very important to get everyone working together.

"The exercise proved a success with all the casualties being found.

"It showed that everyone taking part could work together and it helped them practise co-ordination and enabled them to liaise with all the rescue teams concerned.

"From a search side it went very well as the exercise casualties were found and located."

Ken was also delighted that rescue teams had learnt lessons from last year's emergency simulation and techniques had been improved.

He added: "It has given everybody a good practice."