VIDEO This is what the emergency services do to help them unwind after a hard day's work.The group of brave paramedics and police officers could be seen abseiling down the side of the Civic Centre, in Civic Drive, Ipswich, yesterday afternoon as part of a team building exercise.

THIS is what the emergency services do to help them unwind after a hard day's work.

The group of brave paramedics and police officers could be seen abseiling down the side of the Civic Centre, in Civic Drive, Ipswich, yesterday afternoon as part of a team building exercise.

The firearms unit of Suffolk Police were also there practising their abseiling skills and testing their head for heights.

Sergeant Mark Ramsey was with two of his colleagues helping to cultivate the team spirit in his department.

He said: “Although a bit unusual, this type of thing is ideal for bonding with colleagues!”

Sergeant Ramsey's colleague and police staff member, David Carr, said the experience was terrifying.

He said: “It was terrifying to be perfectly honest, there was just nothing nice about it.

“But, it's bringing me closer to my sergeant so it's OK.”

Paramedic for the East of England Ambulance Service, Paul Leech, said: “It's not too bad, once you're over the edge it's OK.”

Police Constable and abseiling instructor, Simon Chenery, was there helping to train other officers.

He said: “The idea is to train them in the skill of abseiling and for any rescue situations they may find themselves in and also to help them with the fear of heights.

“If an officer was searching the top of a building, say at Bury St Edmunds cathedral, they may have to search the roof to make sure everything is OK and because they're up that high they have to be able to work without the fear of falling off-it's no more than people in the building industry do when they're working with scaffolding.”

Pc Chenery has been abseiling for more than ten years but he admits he still finds it a frightening experience.

He said: “I don't like heights but I do enjoy abseiling, once I'm on the rope I'm fine but when I'm right at the top about to start, looking down, it's not comfortable.”

Have you got a head for heights? What have your office or work place done to help get the team spirit flowing?

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