INTENSE medical training has improved the skills of the Portishead Lifeboat crew.

Nine volunteers with the Portishead and Bristol Lifeboat are now qualified to the equivalent level of an ambulance technician after embarking on a three-day RNLI casualty care course.

Different scenarios were staged throughout the course placing the crew in varied situations, dealing with casualties suffering injuries from bleeds and broken bones to burns.

Portishead crew member Mike Chichester said: “It was a very intensive, worthwhile three-day course, culminating in applying what we had learnt in very realistic situations.

“Crew also acted the part of casualties with fake blood, burns and severed limbs, all making it as realistic as possible.”