Operation Atlantis: "Huge" exercise on Lincolnshire coast to train for emergency situations

The multi-agency training session – code-named “Operation Atlantis” – took place in Mablethorpe and involved crews from HM Coastguard, RNLI Lifeboats and Lifeguards, Lincolnshire Police and Coastwatch.

Three live scenarios were played out across both land and sea, helping the various crews to strengthen their knowledge, understanding and joint agency response to incidents during the busy summer season.

Throughout the evening of May 19, from 5pm to 9pm, multiple exercise scenarios were played out, including:

• Jet ski accident involving swimmers

• Sand hole collapse with casualty

• Misper (missing persons search)

A police spokesperson said: “Tuesday night saw a huge multiagency training session take place with the Atlantis Alliance as teams came together across the Lincolnshire coastline to put their skills, teamwork and communication to the test.

"The evening brought together teams from Wrangle, Skegness, Mablethorpe and Donna Nook Coastguard Rescue Teams, RNLI Lifeguards Lincolnshire, National Coastwatch Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire Police, Mablethorpe RNLI Lifeboat, alongside some fantastic volunteer role players who helped make the scenarios feel as realistic as possible.

“From coordinating resources to testing decision making under pressure, the evening proved just how important partnership working is when it comes to keeping people safe along our coastline.

“The feedback from all agencies was incredibly positive and the teams found the evening hugely beneficial.”

A spokesperson for Mablethorpe Coastguard added: “This fast-paced evening of multi-incident exercises allowed us all to work alongside one another in our respective roles while learning each other’s up-to-date operating procedures and capabilities.

“HM Coastguard Rescue Teams regularly work alongside RNLI Lifeboats, RNLI Lifeguards and Lincolnshire Police during real-life incidents, but exercises such as these provide a safe environment to train together without the additional pressures that come with real casualties.

The exercise also gave our newest recruit CROs (Coastguard Rescue Officers) from Mablethorpe and Skegness valuable experience in roles and scenarios they may not yet have encountered operationally.

“These are all invaluable skills to develop should the time come that they are needed in a real-life emergency and all did wonderfully in such a faced paces scenario.”