Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal

Book excerpt: ‘In police rescue, there is no such word as can’t. It CAN be done.’ Sergeant Ray Tyson, 1976. This is the story of an elite unit that has been protecting public safety for 75 years. Every day the women and men of the NSW Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal Unit confront some of the most challenging and harrowing situations imaginable; including recovering decomposing bodies from cliffs, cutting people out of the wreckage of crashed cars, or disarming improvised explosive devices. Nerves of steel, compassion and dedication to duty are the core requirements for police rescue operators and bomb technicians. Police Rescue and Bomb Disposal takes you on a journey from the dark days of World War II when police first formed a unit to recover bodies from Sydney’s cliffs, to the unit leading rescue operations at the Granville train disaster, the Newcastle earthquake, the Thredbo landslide, and other emergencies up to and including the Lindt Café siege. Drawing upon numerous interviews and official documents this book is complimented by many never seen before images and is a fitting testament to the dedication and personal sacrifices made by a small band of highly skilled professionals.