NEWTON Abbot racecourse will the at the centre of a major emergency next week.

A simulated explosion will unfold at the racecourse as part of a large scale emergency training exercise.

Student paramedics from the University of Plymouth will take part in the disaster simulation exercise on Thursday, designed to replicate the pressures and realities of a major incident.

The training exercise, which will involve nearly 100 students and staff, will simulate an explosion in the racecourse grandstand, triggering a full emergency response scenario involving multiple agencies.

Beginning in the morning with briefings and preparation, the live simulation will start at about 1,30pm when a staged explosion, complete with sound effects and smoke, will signal the start of a two-hour incident response.

Student paramedics will be required to assess and treat multiple casualties, working under pressure in a realistic environment designed to mirror real-life emergency situations.

The exercise is being organised by Ian Luscombe, who leads the Paramedic Science programme at the University of Plymouth, to support students and give them invaluable hands-on experience ahead of entering frontline roles.

The scenario will involve support from a range of emergency and medical services, including: local police, two fire engines from Torquay and Newton Abbot, Hazardous Area Response Team (HART), on-site medics from APG, supported by two ambulances and racecourse doctors.

Racecourse facilities, including the betting halls, will be transformed into triage and treatment areas, while volunteer casualties, complete with realistic injury simulation, will help bring authenticity to the exercise.

Teignbridge District Council’s Emergency Planning Team are supporting the exercise and will also be in attendance to observe the multi-agency response in action.

Ian Luscombe said: ‘We have some great facilities and expertise at the University, but there’s nothing like hands on experience to help students prepare for what they might face in their frontline roles.

'As well as working under pressure to treat ‘casualties’ in this exercise, students will need to work with other organisations to respond to the incident, just as they would in the real world.

“It’s essential to our programme that we do these simulations, and we’re very grateful to Newton Abbot Racecourse and all the agencies involved for helping us to deliver this event.

‘I’ve no doubt it’ll be a fantastic way to bring our students’ learning to life.”

Jenny Paton, spokesman for the racecourse said: ‘Newton Abbot racecourse is delighted to host this simulation event for University of Plymouth.

‘This exercise will not only support the training of student paramedics but also help prepare the racecourse and partner agencies for a potential large-scale emergency’.

This exercise highlights the importance of preparing future paramedics through realistic, scenario-based training that reflects the complexity and urgency of real-world emergencies.