Surrey Search and Rescue
A volunteer lowland search and rescue team serving Surrey and supporting statutory emergency agencies across the United Kingdom.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Surrey Search and Rescue, commonly abbreviated as SurSAR, is a volunteer lowland search and rescue organisation based in Surrey, England. Its principal role is to assist with the search for missing people and related emergency incidents at the request of statutory agencies, including Surrey Police, the Metropolitan Police Service, Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, Local Resilience Forum partners and other search and rescue organisations. The team operates within the wider United Kingdom search and rescue framework rather than as a commercial brand or conventional product company. The organisation was founded in 2010 by Tim Rowsell. During the first half of 2011, it developed its operational structure and obtained provisional status with the Association of Lowland Search and Rescue. Its early activity included eight searches in the first six months of 2011, including involvement in the search for missing person Sian O'Callaghan from Swindon. By September 2011, the team had qualified another search dog and had assisted with more than 50 searches nationally. Later that year, the addition of 12 search technicians and another dog brought the volunteer complement to 38 people, while the team recorded 69 callouts during 2011. SurSAR became a registered charity in England and Wales on 19 October 2011. Like many UK search and rescue teams, it depends heavily on volunteers and does not charge the public for its emergency response. Its funding model relies on donations from individuals and local businesses, supplemented in its first year by £8,657 from the National Lottery Community Fund. This charitable structure supports training, vehicles, communications equipment, specialist rescue equipment and other operational needs. Full membership of Lowland Rescue was granted on 8 January 2012. Over time, SurSAR expanded beyond conventional land searches. Its capabilities came to include swift-water rescue technicians, remotely piloted aircraft system operators for drone-based imaging, and Lowland Rescue first responders with medical training. These capabilities are intended to complement, rather than replace, the responsibilities of police, fire and rescue and other emergency services. The team also participates in wider emergency planning and flood response. In 2014 it supported Operation FRANKLIN, the response to flooding in Surrey and surrounding areas. Recognition for that community response later included an invitation to 10 Downing Street. In October 2016, SurSAR received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, an award recognising volunteer-led community organisations. Operational demand increased over the period described in the available reference material. SurSAR answered 98 callouts in 2017, 29 more than in 2011, and was described in 2018 as the busiest Lowland Rescue team in Great Britain. In 2019, its operational relationship with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service was strengthened when selected members received response-driving training. Those members could then respond to emergencies tasked through the Joint Emergency Communications Centre under fire-service exemptions, supporting faster attendance at life-threatening incidents while operating within the relevant emergency-service framework. SurSAR's identity is therefore based on public service, volunteer expertise and inter-agency coordination. Its principal offerings are emergency search, rescue, medical support, flood and water-response assistance, and aerial imaging. Available sources do not establish a conventional corporate owner, commercial revenue model, founder-led management structure or national consumer brand presence.
History
Surrey Search and Rescue was established in 2010 by Tim Rowsell as a volunteer lowland search and rescue team serving Surrey. Its initial development took place during the first half of 2011, when it built its operational structure and secured provisional status with the Association of Lowland Search and Rescue. Early deployments included eight searches in the first six months of 2011, among them the search for missing person Sian O'Callaghan from Swindon. The organisation expanded quickly during 2011. A further search dog qualified at national assessments in September, and the team had by then assisted with more than 50 searches across the country. The addition of 12 search technicians and another dog later that year brought the volunteer force to 38 people. SurSAR recorded 69 callouts in 2011 and became a registered charity in England and Wales on 19 October of that year. It received £8,657 from the National Lottery Community Fund during its first year, while its continuing operating model relied on donations from the public and local businesses. On 8 January 2012, SurSAR gained full membership of Lowland Rescue. This marked its transition from a developing unit into an established component of the UK lowland rescue network. The team subsequently broadened its skills and equipment to include swift-water rescue technicians, remotely piloted aircraft system operators and Lowland Rescue first responders. These roles enabled it to support searches, water incidents, flood operations, aerial imaging and immediate medical assistance while remaining tasked by appropriate public authorities. In 2014, SurSAR assisted with Operation FRANKLIN, the flood response in Surrey and surrounding areas. The work led to an invitation to 10 Downing Street in recognition of the team's contribution to the local community. In October 2016, it received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service, reflecting the importance of its volunteer workforce and community service. The available account records continued growth in operational activity. SurSAR responded to 98 callouts in 2017, an increase of 29 compared with 2011, and in 2018 it was described as the busiest Lowland Rescue team in Great Britain. In 2019, cooperation with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service was strengthened through response-driving training for selected members. Those trained drivers could attend emergencies allocated through the Joint Emergency Communications Centre under fire-service exemptions, allowing the team to contribute to rapid response in life-threatening situations. SurSAR is not described as a commercial company or consumer-facing product brand. It is a volunteer charitable organisation whose capabilities are deployed through inter-agency tasking. Its work includes missing-person searches, lowland rescue, water and flood response, drone imaging and first-responder support. The available sources do not identify a corporate parent, commercial owner, current executive roster or separate operating subsidiaries.
- 2019
Response-driving partnership with Surrey Fire and Rescue Service
[1]Selected members gained response-driving training and could attend incidents tasked through the Joint Emergency Communications Centre under fire-service exemptions.
- 2018
Described as Britain's busiest Lowland Rescue team
[1]SurSAR was described as the busiest Lowland Rescue team in Great Britain.
- 2017
Recorded increase in callouts
[1]The team responded to 98 callouts, 29 more than the 2011 figure cited in the reference material.
- 2016
Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
[1]The organisation received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in October 2016.
- 2014
Flood-response support
[1]SurSAR supported Operation FRANKLIN during flooding in Surrey and surrounding areas.
- 2012
Full Lowland Rescue membership
[1]The team received full membership of Lowland Rescue on 8 January 2012.
- 2011
Provisional lowland rescue status and early expansion
[1]The unit developed its structure, obtained provisional Association of Lowland Search and Rescue status, assisted with numerous searches and expanded to 38 volunteers by the end of the year.
- 2011
Registered charity status
[1]Surrey Search and Rescue became a registered charity in England and Wales on 19 October 2011.
- 2010
Organisation founded
[1]Tim Rowsell founded Surrey Search and Rescue as a volunteer lowland search and rescue team.
Products and positioning
A volunteer, charity-based lowland search and rescue team providing specialist operational support to police, fire and rescue services and other emergency agencies in Surrey and, when requested, beyond the county.
Search and rescue service · 2010
Missing-person search
SurSAR provides volunteer personnel, search technicians and search-dog capability for missing-person incidents. Deployments are made when requested by police or another authorised agency, and may involve systematic searches of lowland, rural, urban-fringe or difficult-access areas.
Water rescue service
Swift-water and flood rescue
The team includes Swift Water Rescue Technicians and has supported flooding and water-related emergency operations. Its water-rescue capability complements the work of fire and rescue services during incidents requiring specialist personnel and equipment.
Aerial search and imaging
Remotely piloted aircraft system operations
Trained drone pilots provide aerial imaging and search support for emergency incidents. Remotely piloted aircraft can assist partner agencies by supplying an additional view of search areas and operational scenes.
Marketing campaigns
- 2014Operation FRANKLIN
Surrey · Surrounding areas
SurSAR supported the coordinated response to flooding in Surrey and nearby areas, contributing volunteer search and rescue capability to the wider emergency operation.
Outcome. The team was subsequently invited to 10 Downing Street in recognition of its work supporting the local community.
Brand decisions
2019
Expand operational cooperation with Surrey Fire and Rescue ServiceStrategyBackground
SurSAR sought to improve the speed and practicality of volunteer attendance at serious incidents while maintaining coordination with statutory emergency services.
Action taken
Selected team members received response-driving training and were able to respond to incidents tasked through the Joint Emergency Communications Centre under fire-service exemptions.
Aftermath
The arrangement strengthened the operational partnership between SurSAR and Surrey Fire and Rescue Service and supported rapid attendance at life-threatening emergencies.
Recent events
- 2019
SurSAR strengthens emergency response-driving capability[1]
Leadership change
Selected team members were trained in response driving, enabling them to attend emergencies tasked through the Joint Emergency Communications Centre under applicable fire-service exemptions.
- 2016
Surrey Search and Rescue receives the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service[1]
Other
SurSAR received the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service in October 2016 in recognition of its volunteer contribution.
- 2014
SurSAR supports Surrey flooding response[1]
Other
The team supported Operation FRANKLIN, the response to flooding in Surrey and surrounding areas, and was later invited to 10 Downing Street in recognition of its community work.
- 2012
SurSAR receives full Lowland Rescue membership[1]
Other
The team was granted full membership of Lowland Rescue on 8 January 2012 after developing its volunteer and operational capabilities.
- 2011
Surrey Search and Rescue becomes a registered charity[1]
Other
SurSAR was registered as a charity in England and Wales on 19 October 2011, formalising the charitable structure through which it raises funds and supports volunteer operations.
Sources2 sources
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