Making a Difference

About Jane De Boise 

In 2012 I joined Surrey Fire & Rescue Service. After nine years as an operational firefighter, I was medically discharged following an injury, meaning I was no longer able to perform the duties I loved. I moved into an office-based role as a Water Safety Officer, advising councils on drowning prevention and designing and installing emergency throwlines along the Surrey stretch of the River Thames, an initiative that has now been adopted nationwide. During this time, my research made me aware of the little-known abilities of a Drowned Victim Search dog. Having seen first hand the moment a person enters the water, the desperate search, and finally the recovery of the body, I knew I wanted to continue in this area of work. If more tragic lives cannot be saved in our waters, I want to devote my efforts to easing the pain and suffering of families by reuniting them with their loved ones.

In 2022, I was privileged to be offered a Springer Spaniel puppy, offspring of KC Gundog Crickmay Secret of Wisternox. I could tell immediately that this pup, who I would go on to call Nessie, would make a formidable search dog, and at 15 months old she became one of the youngest dogs to qualify in this specialist field.

Using my own finances, Nessie and I trained as a team in North Wales to Level 3 Victim (Water Submerged) Cadaver Detection Dog criteria. Following rigorous assessments covering hundreds of hours of training, where dogs must learn to tell apart all the scents related to decades of decomposition, we now support police forces, search and rescue organisations and families across the UK.

My other credentials include:

* First and foremost- Mother to my beautiful daughter, who is my inspiration

* Surrey Fire & Rescue Service 2012- 2021- Firefighter, specialising in Drowning Prevention and Victim Recovery 

* Immediate Emergency Care Instructor- Surrey Fire & Rescue Service

* Bronze NNAS Trained (Navigation)

* DEFRA Mod 2 Water Rescue

* Level3 PETbc Diploma in Canine Psychology with Distinction, & Dog Law Certificate
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The next generation-

Pixie is my young English Springer Spaniel and Nessie's daughter. Her sire, Bertie, is a land cadaver search dog, so she comes from proven working lines on both sides. At just over a year old, she's fully trained for bank searches and is now working towards boat searches. She's the next step in growing the team and extending our reach across the UK

Drowned Victim Search dogs might not be a skill previously heard of, but the use of dogs to find human remains is nothing new. According to a paper in the 'journal of Archeological Method and Theory' dogs have been helping track down dead bodies (Cadaver detection dogs) since around 700 B.C, and over many centuries since, they've shown a remarkable ability to recognise the scent of decomposing flesh, regardless of whether it's hours or decades old.

Law enforcement groups rely on cadaver dogs to help solve crimes where a dead body is suspected. Cadaver dogs are often used in conjunction with Search and Rescue, which allows people to be found either dead or alive. Each dog receives hundred of hours training before they are ready to work in the field, making them, and their handlers a highly valuable resource. This may go a long way to explaining why Government organisations sub contract this particular area of detection work to private companies, rather than committing one employee on an annual wage in a role that does not fall under the primary remit of most agencies such as the Police or Fire Service.

In 1992, an Officer in the Swedish Special Forces, John Sjoberg, first demonstrated the use of dogs to locate submarines and underwater swimmers. Neil Powell, of SARDA(NI) went on to discuss with John Sjoberg the potential to use dogs to help locate drowned victims (water cadaver), and between them they spent the next decade refining the skill. The first Introductory Level Assessment for Drowned Victim Search dogs was in 2014. Since then the use of 'Water Cadaver' dog teams have become commonplace with Police Forces throughout Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, where there are over 45000 lochs and lakes. By comparison, 'Water Cadaver' is still relatively unheard of in England, yet, out of an average 600 people who accidentally drown or take their own lives in our waters, every year throughout the UK, 438 occur in England (WAID- Water Incident Database).

The first time I witnessed this remarkable resource in use was April 2016 at an operational incident, where a kayaker, was last seen on the River Wey in Guildford. After he was reported missing an exhaustive search was undertaken, which commenced over a two week duration, without success. Two renowned DV search dog handlers, Dave Marsh, and Mike Dermody with their dogs, Sasha and Quinny, volunteered to attend. Within one hour of arriving on scene, both dogs identified the exact location of the body, in an area that was searched and presumed clear. This "find" was the first of its kind in the UK, and a moment that went on to inspire and motivate me to explore this fascinating skill further.

Reuniting families with their loved ones

In Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, the recovery effort for persons presumed drowned, will be supplemented, if not spearheaded, by a DVSD team. Teams can perform an active search that has a 95% success rate in detecting the scent of human decomposition underwater, with a location accuracy down to 10m2. This level of efficency saves a significant amount of time, resources, and costs associated with traditional recovery options, laboriously searching large areas. The focus of the dive team can then be to successfully recover the body from a more precise search parameter. To say nothing of the reduction of stress experienced by bereaved families, who might otherwise be waiting days or even weeks to be reunited with the remains of loved ones.

From the approximate 438 people who accidentally drown or take their own lives in England every year (WAID), it is reasonable to suggest that there is an unmet need for a locally operating DVSD team to assist the recovery teams. Particularly the South of England, where I am located, meaning I am available at short notice to some of the most populated regions in the UK where the highest rates of water related morbidity occur.

I'm ambitious, and determined to succeed in this specialised area that can really make a difference to the families of drowned victims. I bring the same enthusiasm, tenacity and work ethic to this role that originally won me a place as one of only 6.7% of female firefighters in the UK.