The Wyk auf Föhr volunteer fire brigade has tested a drone for water rescue. The unmanned aerial system can bring inflatable rescue equipment of the Restube type to people in distress at sea. The method promises faster help.
Drones in water rescue are no longer science fiction. Rescue organisations around the world are testing unmanned aerial systems that can be on site faster than boats or lifeguards. The Wyk auf Föhr fire brigade is now one of the first organisations in Germany to test this technology. During a test in Wyk harbour, a drone was used to transport a Restube - a self-inflating rescue device - and drop it over the water.
Restube: Compact and quick to use
The Restube was originally developed as safety equipment for water sports enthusiasts. Swimmers, surfers and stand-up paddlers wear the compact device on their belt. In an emergency, a loop is pulled and a CO₂ cartridge inflates a yellow tube that provides around ten kilograms of buoyancy. The system is small, lightweight and ready for use within seconds. Restube (the name is made up of Rescue and Tube) cannot replace an automatic lifejacket, but is used by water sports enthusiasts who find a classic lifejacket too bulky. The system is very compact when packed and can be worn on a belt.
The use in professional water rescue is a new approach. The idea: a drone flies with the Restube to the casualty and drops it. The rescue equipment inflates automatically, the person grabs hold and stays afloat until rescue teams arrive by boat. Especially on the North Sea coast with strong currents, every minute saved could be crucial.
Time advantage over conventional rescue equipment
The theoretical advantage is obvious: a drone is on site faster than a lifeboat, which first has to be lowered into the water, or lifeguards, who have to run and swim to the scene of the accident. It can provide an overview from the air and transmit the exact position of the person. If there are several people in the water, the drone can drop several Restubes one after the other. Up to four people can hold on to the Restube 180 model in use.
The drone is also very versatile. Equipped with a camera, it can analyse the situation: How many people are in the water? Where exactly are they? Are they drifting? Are there any dangers such as currents or shallows? This information helps the rescue services to better plan the operation.
The limits of the system
However, the method has a crucial catch: the Restube only works if the person involved in the accident is conscious and has the strength. They must notice the falling device, reach for it and hold on to it. Anyone who is unconscious, hypothermic, exhausted or panicked cannot use the Restube. However, these are precisely the situations that can occur in an emergency at sea.
A person who has fallen off the boat and can still swim will probably stay afloat without a Restube until help arrives. A person who is drowning may no longer be able to grasp the device. The Restube also provides buoyancy, but not rescue. Hypothermia is a real danger in water accidents on the North Sea. Even with a Restube, a person can cool down so much within minutes that they can no longer hold on.
Controversy among rescue experts
It is always recommended to wear a lifejacket. Models with 275 netons of buoyancy and more offer a safe position for the face above the water. They can also turn people who have fallen belly-first into the water into a safe supine position. The lifejacket is always superior to a Restube. The drone with the Restube is an additional tool when a person is floating in the water without rescue equipment, without a boat nearby. Even if the Restube only helps in some cases, it could save lives. However, being able to quickly assess the situation from the air is always a clear advantage.
Another problem is that the technology is weather-dependent. The drone cannot fly in strong winds, rain or darkness. It is precisely when the sea is rough and accidents happen more frequently that the system may fail. Drones are also subject to strict legal requirements, especially near the coast and over busy beaches.
Föhr as a test area
Föhr is a suitable test area for such systems. The island has kilometres of beaches, tidal creeks with currents and a large mudflat area. Every year there are incidents in which bathers, mudflat walkers or sailors get into distress at sea. The local fire brigade and the DLRG are well trained for such operations, but are constantly evaluating new technologies.
According to media reports, the Wyk fire brigade is planning to test the drone in further exercises and trial its possible uses. Whether the technology will be used permanently depends on the results. The decisive factor will be whether the system actually saves lives in an emergency.
International experience
Föhr is not the first region to test drones for water rescue. In Australia, rescue organisations have been using drones for years to detect sharks and warn swimmers. Restube-like devices are also being dropped there. The experiences are mixed - in some cases people could be assisted, in others the drone did not help.
In Spain, rescue services are testing drones that drop small life rafts. These offer more space and protection than a restube, but are heavier and require more powerful drones. Such systems are still rare in Germany. In addition to Föhr, fire services are also testing similar concepts at lakes in Bavaria and North Rhine-Westphalia.
Additional tool, not a replacement
The rescue drone with Restube is an interesting technological approach for water rescue. In certain situations, it can save time and provide additional information - provided the conditions are right and the casualty is still able to act. The system does not offer a direct solution for unconscious or severely exhausted people.
One thing is clear: the drone can help professional rescue teams. It is an additional tool in the rescue arsenal. The Föhr fire brigade will gain valuable insights from its tests into the conditions under which its use makes sense - and where the limits lie.
Michael Rinck
Redakteur Test & Technik
