A TEAM of Croatian rescue workers have been in Penmaenmawr learning new skills on how to deal with emergency situations. The Croatian Mountain Rescue Team has been in North Wales for the second leg of an exchange which saw Global Rescue Services (GRS) and the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team (OVMR) in Croatia earlier this year. Ten workers and two government officials have been here for the last seven days to learn more about how the emergency services, visiting the police, coast-guard, RAF, RNLI, and Air Ambulance, as each of the jobs done by the different agencies here are carried out only by the mountain rescue service in Croatia. They have also been taking part in practical sessions with OVMR at its base, as well as learning about how to work with rescue dogs at Penmaenmawr Quarry with GRS. Dave Jones from OVMR and GRS was delighted with how the week went. "Everything has gone according to plan and they have had a great time here," he said. "We have done a lot over the course of the week and everyone is now very tired, but it was well worth it." Dave introduced the first rescue dog into Croatia 10 years ago and has now been told that GRS and OVMR have been chosen to lead a special education programme in the country, which will involve 27 trips there in the next three years. GRS have also donated another dog to the Croatians as a gift, having trained mountain rescue dog Hosan for them. Dave says the group also got the chance to do some sight-seeing while they were here. "They have loved it here," said Dave. "We have taken them round Conwy and they think it is a beautiful place. We also had a great night at the Ty^Gwyn Hotel in Rowen with Côr Meibion Maelgwn. It has been a very good week." dan.owen@northwalesnews.co.uk | 
