The International Lifesaving Federation (ILS) hosted a two-day flood disaster workshop in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, on 18 and 19 October. The event brought together around 40 participants from a wide range of disciplines, including lifeguarding, search and rescue, research, policy and disaster management. The workshop served as a rare opportunity for global experts to share knowledge, examine common challenges, and build stronger international cooperation in flood rescue and response.

The IMRF played an active part in the programme through the contribution of Steve Wills, Project Manager at the IMRF, who joined the presenter team to support non-flood specialists moving into the flood rescue arena. He outlined the distinct challenges that responders face in flood conditions compared with traditional beach or coastal rescue and highlighted the need to develop approaches that are suited to the complexities of fast-changing, unpredictable environments. Steve stressed the importance of dedicated training, appropriate equipment and adapted operating systems to ensure that teams can carry out rescues effectively while maintaining safety.

He also delivered a case study on the Bangladesh Fire Service and Civil Defence, illustrating how the organisation built national flood response capabilities and is now able to respond effectively within Bangladesh. The agency has emerged as a regional leader in flood rescue. This development work was part of a project Steve contributed to during his time at the RNLI.

The workshop supported valuable knowledge exchange and helped strengthen networks among flood rescue practitioners from across the world.

Looking ahead, the IMRF is developing new flood rescue guidance for maritime search and rescue organisations considering expansion into flood environments. The guidance will be freely available from the second quarter of 2026 and updates will be published on the IMRF website.