From Casualty to the Royal Marines| Exclusive web interview |  | | "It was a once in a life time experience, just incredible." | |
Actress Rebekah Gibbs is used to dealing with crises in her role as the paramedic Nina Farr in the BBC drama Casualty. Now though, she's training for a real life emergency with the Royal Navy's helicopter pilots at the Yeovilton air base in Somerset. To give air crews the best chance of surviving when a helicopter ditches at sea, the Royal Navy has devised an accident simulator. It's called the "dunker" and it allows pilots to practise making their escape in the relative safety of a swimming pool. But to make the simulation as realistic as possible, the exercise is carried out in the dark. It can be a terrifying experience. The BBC's Inside Out West programme arranges for Rebekah to take part in an exercise with pilots from the Royal Marines 848 squadron. | "Well, Id like to say I was the model student but I have to admit on the first dunk, I did panic slightly." | | Rebekah Gibbs |
After a briefing, she's strapped into the dunker and dropped into the pool. As the simulator falls to the bottom, it spins around, turning upside down in complete darkness. The water floods into the cramped cabin. Rebekah must gather her senses, remove a window and make her escape. Safely back on the surface she says, "I feel really lucky to have done it. This has been an incredible experience, but I'm only too aware that for these guys it could help to save their lives". Go behind the scenes with Rebekah Gibbs Links relating to this story:The BBC is not responsible for the content of external websites | 
Inside Out - West: Monday September 18, 2006
