WIRRAL Coastguard Rescue Team carried out two casualty extraction training sessions to keep skills 'up-to-date' earlier this week.

Pictures on the team's Facebook page show its members recovering a 'casualty' from the end of a rock amour sea defence. They used a caterpillar technique with a basket stretcher to safely recover the casualty. The technique involves the team sliding the stretcher whilst remaining in a stable position.

The Facebook post read: "We have been called several times to people who have slipped on this type of sea defence, so it's very important we keep up our skills.

Members of Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team during casualty extraction training sessions on Tuesday night (October 1)Members of Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team during casualty extraction training sessions on Tuesday night (October 1) (Image: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team / Facebook) "The second exercise was to recover a casualty that had fallen down a steep, slippy embankment.

"We did this by putting in safety handrail ropes, using holdfasts, and a caterpillar technique with stretcher.

Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team during casualty extraction training sessions on Tuesday night (October 1)Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team during casualty extraction training sessions on Tuesday night (October 1) (Image: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team / Facebook) "As a team we enjoy keeping our skills up to date, this means we are ready to respond whenever needed."

Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team vehicle during casualty extraction training sessions on Tuesday night (October 1)Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team vehicle during casualty extraction training sessions on Tuesday night (October 1) (Image: Wirral Coastguard Rescue Team / Facebook)