Firefighters test out their heads for height

Housebuilder McCarthy & Stone held a rescue scenario with the tower crane at its site on Southsea seafront.

The rescue, last Saturday, was organised by Daren Milne, build project manager at the Southsea development, which is on the site that was formerly the popular Joanna’s nightclub.

The training exercise provided firefighters from Southsea fire station with a real-life training opportunity

The crane is on site as construction starts on the South Parade development, which will see 66 assisted-living apartments for the over-70s and a further 31 retirement living apartments built by autumn 2017.

Firefighter Paul Allison said: ‘With construction now underway, we need to ensure that we can act quickly to secure the safety of workers on site, in the unlikely event that a rescue situation arises during construction.

‘Mock rescue activities are incredibly valuable, providing our team with an opportunity to practice a rescue in a real-life setting, with the support of being in a safe and controlled environment.

‘We’d like to thank McCarthy & Stone for holding the session.’