Suffolk Lowland Search and Rescue (aka SULSAR) is a voluntary organisation which is part of ALSAR (Association of Lowland Search and Rescue). We mainly search for vulnerable missing persons (known as mispers). SULSAR is a registered charity & therefore we rely on donations. Although members are volunteers they require specialist equipment and therefore donations are vital.
We are normally called out by Suffolk Constabulary, but we also respond to calls from other search teams in neighbouring counties.
SULSAR was founded in April 1998 by Kevin Waterson, after he had cause to use the services of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team and the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA), when a group of walkers were caught in bad weather. He was so impressed with the efficient way in which the rescue team and dogs worked that he started to think how useful such techniques would be in finding such people as Alzheimer"s sufferers and missing children. An initial meeting took place with Suffolk Police to check the feasibility of such an idea within Suffolk.
A core group was formed with friends who had shown an interest in the idea. They received search training from experienced Mountain Rescue Council (MRC) Search Managers through ALSAR and from the Milton Keynes Search and Rescue Team. That initial core group, went on to receive specialist training from MRC tutors and experts from the USA at the University of Wales in Bangor, and attended an internationally recognised search course, being presented with certificates in "Search Management" by the MRC.
We are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and in all weathers.