Jersey Coastguard has joined French counterparts in a co-ordinated search and rescue exercise.

It took place last weekend (Saturday 1 June) in the east of the island and involved both search and rescue crews responding to a test scenario.  

The practice involved a collision between two vessels, looking for a life raft and recovering a mannequin from the water. 

Credit: Ports of Jersey

Both French and Jersey rescue equipment, vessels and teams were used in the operation, including crews from the RNLI, Jersey Lifeboat Association, Channel Islands Air Search and French search and rescue vessels SNS 443 and SNS 449. 

A French helicopter was also used in a winching rescue exercise involving two divers and a stretcher lowered to the rescue boats. 

All 'casualties' in the exercise were found and recovered successfully. 

Credit: Ports of Jersey

This is the third year these inter-coastguard rescue drills have taken place, which seek to make sure crews' knowledge of how to work together in emergency situations is up to scratch. 

The French Coastguard planned and co-ordinated this year's practice scenario.

Next year, it's expected that Jersey Coastguard will run the exercise.