Typhoon rescue role for prince

Published on Wednesday 9 July 2008 21:46

PRINCE William strides purposefully up the winding road, radio pinned to his ear, eyes scanning the tropical forest.

He moves to higher ground, struggling with his receiver.

A young boy is seriously injured and needs urgent medical help. "Doc!" the prince shouts, and a medic arrives, running.

Eight people have been thrown from a bus during a hurricane that has hit the Caribbean island of Montserrat.

The injuries, and the damage, are not real, as this is just an exercise – but that does not stop everyone, especially the 26-year-old prince, tackling it with the utmost seriousness.

He is taking part in the exercise with crewmates from the frigate HMS Iron Duke.

In his standard issue number fours – blue trousers and shirt – with a stripe on his arm and an HMS Iron Duke baseball cap, Sub-Lieutenant Wales could be any junior officer.

The doctor he summoned, 28-year-old Darren Minshall, from Lincolnshire, said: "These exercises are very important for HMS Iron Duke and for the people of Montserrat and we both train independently.

"It enables us, when it happens for real, to be able to work together as a team."