THE widespread destruction and terrible injuries inflicted in the wake of a huge explosion are something most people in Hampshire do not bear thinking about.

But yesterday the horrific aftermath of an explosion was recreated in Southampton as part of a major operation putting emergency services' lifesaving skills to the test.

Firefighters, paramedics, air ambulance crews, doctors and nurses were in a race against time to save lives during a major incident simulation drill – ensuring they are ready to tackle the real event if it ever occurs.

That was the case when a house was completely destroyed by an explosion in Howards Grove Shirley in November 2014 – but mercifully occupant Jay Sabanal and his young daughter Bella escaped virtually unscathed.

The drill was staged at Southampton General Hospital where the disaster zone features a landscape of twisted wreckage and collapsed concrete and wood with dramatic sound effects including casualties played by volunteers crying out in agony desperate to be rescued.

More than 100 people took part in the exercise which has followed months of meticulous planning and will be tackled by teams from Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, South Central Ambulance Service, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and University Hospital Southampton (UHS) NHS Foundation Trust.

Southampton General Hospital is one of only two centres in the south of England to offer the full range of specialist surgical, intensive care and supporting services for both adults and children who suffer major trauma and is supported by seven regional trauma units.

Representatives from each emergency service will observe the roles carried out by their colleagues at each stage to help with their understanding of the process from the start of an incident to the moment casualties arrive in hospital.

Els Freshwater, an advanced clinical practitioner at UHS, said: “As a trauma centre, our clinicians would play a major role in managing critically injured casualties and liaising with our partners in this type of situation, so this activity will enable us to see what we already do well as a group and where we could improve.”

She also thanked the army of volunteer casualties who took part.

Steve Court, deputy emergency planning and resilience manager at UHS, added that the exercise is an “essential part” of planning for serious and large-scale incidents.