A casualty was rescued from the wreckage of a plane crash, and our outstanding search dogs located a missing person trapped in a tunnel, who was then professionally rescued by members of our Search and Rescue Team. Thankfully, these tragedies did not happen in real life – they were simulated scenarios during an international rescue exercise in Italy, where our team successfully completed the challenging tasks at the beginning of June.

Our Search and Rescue Team successfully completed all tasks of the international rescue exercise, working alongside Greek and British partners in accordance with INSARAG guidelines. During the exercise, the team demonstrated their expertise in rope rescue operations, canine search and rescue, and drone-assisted area reconnaissance.

The Hungarian Reformed Charity Aid’s Search and Rescue Team carried out the rescue of an injured pilot from a crashed aircraft using technical rope rescue equipment, while their canine and drone units searched for a missing person. Thanks to Níla’s rapid indication, the missing person was located within a short period of time, and our team safely evacuated them from the difficult terrain.

During the second scenario, the team had to search for and rescue missing persons trapped among the ruins of a collapsed building. Once again, our search dogs performed exceptionally well, accurately identifying the locations of the injured, greatly assisting the rescue operations. Following this, the casualty was secured on a stretcher and safely extracted from a one-metre-diameter concrete pipe using rope rescue techniques.

As the final element of the exercise, our drone unit surveyed an earthquake-affected area, providing detailed information about the condition of buildings and the possible locations of survivors, thereby supporting rescue decision-making. The exercise evaluators highlighted the excellent cooperation between the teams, the safe execution of tasks, and the outstanding performance of our search dogs.

These are exceptional and courageous professionals for whom such days are about continuous development, gaining experience and strengthening teamwork – and we are proud that they are members of the Hungarian Reformed Charity Aid team.