Rescue 3 Pacific Instructors at Quake

February 27, 2011

Only two days after teaching Rescue 3 Pacific's inaugural Animal Rescue Technician course, Instructors Steve Glassey and Todd Balogh were deployed to the Christchurch Quake.

The massive magnitude 6.3 shallow quake occured on Tuesday and has already claimed over 140 lives, with more loss expected according to officials.

As part of Massey University's initial response contingent, the two were assigned to University of Canterbury Rescue Team, where Steve took up the role of Team Leader and Todd as Medic. Since Wednesday, the composite team has been deployed to support the Taiwanese International Urban Search & Rescue Task Force and completed search operations in the central commerical area.

Steve has been part of the national urban search and rescue programme and became the first full time government employee to support associated programmes, including the establishment of the national training, disaster search dog capacity and response team accreditation standards. He is also a former Technician with New Zealand Task Force 1.

For more information on the quake visit www.canterburyearthquake.org.nz

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