Sport Safety Consultants

Sporting Events

If you’re organising a sporting event you will need qualified first aid and safety cover. Whether you need rigging at height or safety on or under the water we can provide the equipment, risk assessments and manpower for your event. We have beach lifeguards, rescue divers, power boat safety coxswains and abseiling instructors, so whatever your event, be it a sponsored swim, charity abseil or triathlon, safety will be of the highest standard.

Events

Matt Rhodes - Pier to Pier Swim

Matt Rhodes is a former solider; he was a physical training instructor in the British Army, until unfortunately he had a motorbike accident while serving in Germany. Matt was left visually impaired and severely disabled after the accident only having use of the left side of his body.

At the start of 2005, Matt set him self the challenge of swimming between the two piers in Brighton in order to raise money for St. Dunstan’s a charity who looks after blinded ex-service men and women.

He trained extremely hard for 5 months in the swimming pool at St. Dunstan’s, and when his fitness was at a good level Tom Hatt provided safety cover for Matt while he took on the challenges of swimming in the sea. He had to get use to the way the sea moved, the temperature of the water and staying on course (which is difficult enough in the sea with full vision!). Matt and Tom went out on a few occasions in fairly difficult conditions, with force 3-4 winds and some sizable waves. This was invaluable for Matt’s training as it gave him the confidence in his ability for whatever the weather would throw at him on the day.

Unfortunately when the big day arrived (30th July) we had to cancel the swim, the winds had picked up to a steady force 5-6 which was making for some strong and powerful waves. Finally on August the 30th 2005, the conditions were perfect Matt entered the water by the West Pier accompanied by Tom Hatt and Mark Brownlow as the kayak safety team and Gemma Kirkwood as the shore safety cover. 44 minuets later with out a hitch and avoiding all jelly fish (they had spotted some earlier on in the day) Matt swam his way to victory!

Well done Matt! a fantastic achievement and you made it look easy! Next year we’ll find you something else for you to get your teeth into!

As well as training Matt, Tom was also responsible for the organising and running of the event liaising with the local coastguard, lifeguards and writing the relevant risk assessments etc.