From
Casualty to the Royal Marines| Exclusive
web interview |  | | "It
was a once in a life time experience, just incredible." | |
Actress Rebekah
Gibbs is used to dealing with crises in her role as the paramedic Nina Farr in
the BBC drama Casualty. Now though, she's training for a real life emergency
with the Royal Navy's helicopter pilots at the Yeovilton air base in Somerset.
To give air crews the best chance of surviving when a helicopter ditches
at sea, the Royal Navy has devised an accident simulator. It's called the
"dunker" and it allows pilots to practise making their escape in the
relative safety of a swimming pool. But to make the simulation as realistic
as possible, the exercise is carried out in the dark. It can be a terrifying experience. The
BBC's Inside Out West programme arranges for Rebekah to take part in an exercise
with pilots from the Royal Marines 848 squadron. | "Well,
Id like to say I was the model student but I have to admit on the first
dunk, I did panic slightly." | | Rebekah
Gibbs |
After a briefing, she's strapped into the dunker
and dropped into the pool. As the simulator falls to the bottom, it spins
around, turning upside down in complete darkness. The water floods into
the cramped cabin. Rebekah must gather her senses, remove a window and make her
escape. Safely back on the surface she says, "I feel really lucky
to have done it. This has been an incredible experience, but I'm only too aware
that for these guys it could help to save their lives". Go
behind the scenes with Rebekah Gibbs Links relating to this
story:The BBC is not responsible for the content of
external websites | 
Inside
Out - West: Monday September 18, 2006
