A Falmouth RNLI volunteer was one of six crew members chosen to participate in an international lifeboat crew exchange.

Tamara Brookes had the honour to take part in the International Maritime Rescue Federation Lifeboat Crew Exchange Programme.

The programme, now in its tenth year, allows search and rescue organisations to exchange skills and knowledge with their international counterparts.

This year, participants were assigned to a lifeboat organisation in one of eight countries, with Ms Brookes heading to Finland to work with the Finnish Lifeboat Institution.

The exchange programme ran for five days and included collaboration, networking, sharing experiences, and practical activities both on and off the water.

Other countries represented in the Finland exchange were Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands, France, and Iceland.

(Image: Falmouth RNLI) Ms Brookes joined Falmouth RNLI as a trainee crew member seven years ago, and in December last year she qualified as a helm on the station's Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboat.

She said: "It was an exhilarating, interesting and inspiring experience, so much was fitted in.

"They were a wonderful bunch of people and the volunteer spirit was the common thing between us all.

"It was very dynamic and you were thrown in at the deep end.

"I have a lot of respect for my counterparts as they spent the week talking in a second language as English was the language spoken."

(Image: Falmouth RNLI) She explained that much of the learning and training was about running through scenarios, sometimes without any briefing, to see how they would coordinate and operate.

Ms Brookes said: "It was amazing that, although we were from different countries with different training and different equipment, we came together to efficiently manage the scenarios."

She described one exercise which involved locating a casualty with a suspected spinal injury and assisting them from their vessel to the shore, including providing some casualty care.

Ms Brookes continued: "Between us, we just all fell into a role.

"We communicated very easily and efficiently and despite being strangers, we all worked very collaboratively and your training really comes out.

"It was amazing how it all came together to achieve a successful outcome."