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London paramedics are getting underwater drones to help with drowning rescues

London Ambulance Service has bought four underwater drones that can use sonar and cameras to locate people beneath the water while reducing risk to rescuers.

By The TEA Editorial Desk · 28 August 2026

London Ambulance Service HART paramedics training with an underwater drone Image: London Ambulance Service NHS Trust, via PublicTechnologyOriginal source

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London paramedics are adding underwater drones to their rescue toolkit, using technology designed to locate people beneath the surface without immediately putting responders into dangerous water.

London Ambulance Service has invested more than £40,000 in four submersible units for its specialist Hazardous Area Response Team. The drones use sonar and underwater cameras to search for a casualty and can be fitted with an arm designed to help bring someone towards the surface.

The service responds to around 50 or more drowning incidents in a typical year. It says the drones can be deployed in under two minutes and will become part of HART training for incidents in rivers, lakes and other waterways.

The technology does not replace water-rescue skills, but it can give crews another way to find someone quickly while reducing the need for paramedics to enter hazardous water before they know exactly where a casualty is.