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How Drone Technology Helped UKISAR Save Lives in Mozambique
Four Kent Fire and Rescue Service (KFRS) firefighters from the Technical Rescue Team —Jim Chaston, Stephen Holmes, Stacey Irvine and Andrew Parks—were deployed as part of the UK International Search and Rescue Teams (UKISAR) response to Mozambique in January 2026. Together, they made up three of the four drone‑trained personnel within the team.
Stephen, having completed his initial drone pilot training just six weeks earlier, was deployed to Mozambique where devastating floods had displaced communities and left vast areas inaccessible to ground crews. UKISAR is the official UK Government response to international disasters, funded and supported by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The team comprises specialist responders from 14 UK fire and rescue services.
Rescue Operations
On the first day of rescue operations, Stephen was tasked with flying the team’s drone during a critical ten‑hour rescue mission stretching over more than 20 miles. Two rescue boats were returning to the launch site with several people on board who had been rescued from the floodwater, and with light fading and areas of shallow water hindering progress, it was decided a drone would be launched to aid safe navigation through the flood plain.
Stephen launched the drone and flew it beyond visual line of sight (BVLoS) across difficult floodwater to locate the boat teams, assess their surroundings, and support the coordination of a safe extraction. The drone’s aerial perspective enabled rescuers to identify viable routes and guide the rescued locals to safety.
Despite being only weeks into his drone‑pilot journey, Stephen’s first international mission demonstrated both the value of drone operations and how quickly newly trained pilots can make a meaningful impact in disaster zones. “It was an absolute honour to work with such a professional and high-performing team,” Stephen said, “and to use my newly gained skills to help achieve a successful deployment and assist as many people as possible.”
Throughout the deployment, the drone was also used to locate stranded casualties, coordinate rescue operations, assess damaged infrastructure, and identify safe access points—highlighting the increasingly crucial role drone operations play in modern technical rescue.
Dedicated Emergency Services Training
Stephen had completed his drone training with Eagle Eye Innovations, whose specialist Emergency Services training course had prepared the KFRS Technical Rescue Team for operating in high‑risk, high‑pressure environments. The course combined in‑depth theory with scenario‑led practical flying tailored to real rescue contexts, equipping KFRS pilots with the regulatory knowledge, technical skills and operational confidence needed to deploy drones safely and effectively from day one.
Delivered by instructors with extensive operational experience, the training emphasised navigation in complex environments, human factors, aviation safety and coordinated team working; capabilities that directly underpin successful missions such as the UKISAR deployment to Mozambique, where drone operations proved critical in overcoming access challenges and supporting life‑saving decision‑making in the field.
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