In October 2018, world class rescue and trauma teams from around the world arrived in South Africa, their destination was Cape Town and the 19^th World Rescue Challenge (WRO). The event which took place at the Athlone international football stadium kicked off with the opening ceremony where over five hundred international team members, assessors and officials were welcomed to South Africa. The event, which ran over four days was hosted by South African Medical Rescue Association (SAMRO) and saw thirty one rescue and twenty four trauma teams compete in over 160 challenging scenarios including complex, standard and rapid disciplines. Teams, Assessors and Observers from North & South America, Australasia, Africa, Middle East and Europe came together to share knowledge and skills in extrication and trauma. All teams who attended were nominated by their own WRO member organisation and had competed within regional and national challenges within their own country.

Dan Zinge, Chair of the WRO said ‘the Rescue Challenge Concept is an extremely effective means for training rescue and medical personnel, which helps to maintain skills and ultimately, a more effective and sustainable rescue and medical capability within countries’.  

Also at the event, the World Rescue Organisation held its Annual General Meeting. During the meeting the WRO received bids to host the 2020 World Rescue Challenge, which was awarded to Miami Dade FD supported by the NORTH American Vehicle Rescue Association (NAVRA). This award confirm the next three World Rescue Challenges as, 2019 – La Rochelle France, 2020 – Miami USA and 2021 – Luxemburg, Luxemburg. Details of all of these events will be available on the WRO website: www.wrescue.org

In addition the WRO membership grew with two new members, Colombia and Renault joining the WRO and two existing members increasing their membership level with Romania moving from level 2 to level 1 and Paraguay moving from level 3 to level 2, WRO member details are available at: https://www.wrescue.org/About-Us/WRO-Structure 

Congratulations to our FIRE AID member the World Rescue Organisation on hosting such a fantastic event and well done to all who participated. Follow the below links for further images and video footage of the event along with the promotional video for WRC2019:

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1382430535224530&id=351560528311541

https://www.facebook.com/WorldRescueOrganisation/videos/2042104589215111/?t=10

https://www.facebook.com/WRC2019France/videos/1505852239517675/?t=6