Meet your WRC 2025 Extrication and Trauma Assessors:
Carlos “Iggy” Eguiluz (NAVRA) – Extrication Lead Assessor, USA
Paul Hamer (WRO/UKRO) – Deputy Extrication Lead, UK
Assistant to Extrication Lead / Advisor / Support for Croatia;
World Rescue Challenge Croatia ’25
I have served as an Operational Firefighter and Instructor in the UK Fire and Rescue Service for 34 years, including time as a lead Instructor at the Fire Service College for Road Traffic Collision (RTC) training. My experience includes collaborating with UKRO on various projects, such as contributing to the EXiT program and developing new qualifications for UK FRS in the RTC field.
Over the past three years, I have worked with the team from Karlovac, this year’s host, to deliver the Croatia National Extrication Challenge and am prepared to support their efforts in hosting WRC’25.
I have acted as an extrication assessor for approximately ten years, with experience in both technical and command assessments.
Carlos Amaro (ANSD)- Command Assessor, Portugal
EXTRICATION
I took part on the first extrication rescue team at RSB Lisboa in 2011.
I was co-founder of the Associação Nacional de Salvamento e Desencarceramento (ANSD) in 2012.
Command and Technical Assessor in ANSD Portugal since 2013.
Command and Technical Assessor in World Rescue Organization (WRO) since 2015.
I was a Shadow Assessor at:
– National Challenge (NC) in the United Kingdom 2015
– NC in Ireland 2016
– World Rescue Challenge (WRC)2014 in the UK
Assessor’s Workshop:
– Barcelona 2013, UKRO 2015, ROI2016 WRC2014/15/16/17/18/2022 and all organized by ANSD since 2015.
I was an Assessor at:
– 12 Regional and NC in Portugal since 2013;
– NC in Ireland 2017/2019, France 2022/2025, Croatia 2025;
– WRC in United Kingdom 2014 (shadow), Lisboa 2015, Brasil 2016, Romania 2017, South Africa 2018, Luxemburg 2022.
– Deputy Extrication Lead in Azores 2024.”
Icaro Gabriel Greinert (ABRS) – Command Assessor, Brazil
I have been actively involved in rescue challenges and training for over two decades, beginning
with my formation at the Paraná Fire Department Academy in 1999. Since then, I have
participated in, instructed, and assessed at numerous national and international rescue events.
My international experience includes serving as Brazilian Team Captain at the World Rescue
Challenge in Portugal (2015) and England (2014), as well as acting as a Shadow Assessor at the
World Rescue Challenge in Romania (2017) and France (2019). More recently, I contributed as
Command Assessor at the World Rescue Challenge in the Azores, Portugal (2024).
In Brazil, I have played key roles as Command Assessor in multiple state challenges (Paraná,
Santa Catarina, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo), and as General Coordinator of
several Brazilian National Challenges (2017, 2018, 2019). I have also served as an instructor at
Rescue Days Brasil and the ABRES Assessor’s Course, training and mentoring new generations of rescue professionals.
With a career spanning from participant to international assessor, my mission has been to
strengthen rescue standards, promote knowledge sharing, and support the global rescue
community through continuous learning and collaboration.
Tom Winkler (NAVRA) – Command Assessor , USA
Division Chief Special Operations and Training (retired) Seminole, Florida USA has been a part of Seminole’s Extrication Team for decades serving as tool technician, incident commander and training officer. His team has successfully competed in TERC, NAVRA and WRO circuits since the late 1980’s winning local, state and national challenges. Tom helped form the original NAVRA organization in 2008 serving as NAVRA’s first training officer and began assessing extrication challenges throughout the country. He currently works as a TERC, NAVRA and WRO Command Assessor. During his time with Seminole Fire Rescue, Tom coordinated and led the Special Operations teams responding to hazmat, high angle rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, building collapse and vehicle crash rescue.
Following his 27-year tenure with Seminole Fire Rescue, Tom spent 12 years as a Hurst Jaws of Life Rescue Specialist working as lead instructor for national vehicle and machinery rescue educational events throughout the United States. He is frequently consulted during the research and development phase of new rescue tool technology drawing from his tactical expertise involving new vehicle construction and high-strength vehicle tactical operations.
Now in full retirement, Tom enjoys time with his family and has recommitted his efforts to the vehicle rescue community working as the NAVRA Assessor Coordinator where he oversees the development of new NAVRA assessors. He also continues to teach local fire departments the basics of vehicle crash rescue.
Chief Winkler has committed countless hours to the betterment of vehicle rescue operations through the years. It is for these reasons and others that he received the 2024 NAVRA Lifetime Achievement Award.
Julius Fleishman (SAMRO) – Technical Assessor, South Africa
Key Skills
I have several years of experience of Emergency Medical and Rescue Service from 1986 – 1991 at Local Authority in the Fire and Ambulance Service in South Africa and 1992 – 2025 at the Department of Health as a Rescue instructor at the Free State College of Emergency Care and the University of Johannesburg in South Africa (Rescue Co-coordinator and Instructor).
Education
My relevant qualifications, relating to my existing and potential role within the Department of Health Free State South Africa and Advance Rescue training development training academy.
• Paramedic Intermediate 1987 – Current
• Firefighter 1988 – Current
• Roadway Rescue Training (Vehicle Technology NFPA 1670) 2002 – Current
• Advanced Medical Rescue instructor 1998 – Current
• Registered as an Assessor and Mentor with the Public Service Education & Training Authority of South Africa for the 12 Rescue Modules 2002 – Current
• WRO Assessor in the disciplines of (Command, Technical, Medical and Trauma ) at Regional, National & International Level) 2012 – Current.
I acquired certain skills, which I used to benefit not only in training but also in the treatment of patients and the service to the community.
INVOLVEMENT IN SPECIAL PROJECTS
• Phakisa Grand Prix World Motorcycle Championships
(2003) Welkom: South Africa.
• Rescue Training in the Mining Industrial in Africa (Zambia, Namibia and South Africa)
• National Extrication Competition (Judge for High Angle 2003)
• World Rescue Operations (UK England Widley) Structural Collapse event/training
• Turkish Earthquake Disaster – (Medical Rescue International) Turkey, Town of Coracik (26 August 1999).
• Medical Coordinator World Soccer Confederation and World cup 2010
• Haiti Earthquake Disaster 12 January 2010
• Japan Earthquake Disaster 2011
• Member of South Africa Disaster Rescue Response team
• CEO South Africa Medical Rescue Organisation (SAMRO) and Member of the WRO
INVOLVEMENT IN INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Since 2006 he has also been a regular member at the World Rescue Organisation AGM as a Committee member for SAMRO, and has been a regular contributor towards overall WRO development & progress in recent years.
• Hosted Three World Rescue Challenges in South Africa
• World Rescue Extrication Challenge (2004) in England
• Extrication Challenge (2005) in America (Miami) during August 2005 – September 2005.
• World Rescue Challenge 2006 Cape Town, South Africa Lead Assessor
• World Rescue Extrication Challenge (2010) in Cork, Republic of Ireland
• Medical /Rescue co-ordinator of the 2009-2010 World Cup Soccer Free State Stadium South Africa
• Shadow and Trainee challenge at the 2011 Australasian and World Rescue Challenges, New Zealand
Wellington
• Qualified as assessor at 2011 New Zealand Wellington for future World Rescue Challenges
• WRO Assessor 2012 World Rescue Challenges London
• WRO Assessor 2013 World Rescue Challenges USA
• WRO Assessor 2014 World Rescue Challenges London• WRO Assessor 2015 World Rescue Challenges Portugal
• WRO Assessor 2016 World Rescue Challenges Brazil
• WRO Assessor 2017 World Rescue Challenges Romania
• WRO Assessor 2018 World Rescue Challenges South Africa
• WRO Assessor 2019 World Rescue Challenges France
• WRO Assessor 2020 UAE Rescue Challenges Dubai
• WRO Assessor 2024 World Rescue Challenges Azores Portugal
• WRO Assessor 2025 World Rescue Challenges Karlovac, Croatia
• Lead Assessor for the vehicle extrication challenge (SAESI 2011: 27th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE,
EXHIBITION AND NATIONAL EXTRICATION TRAINING EVENT)
• Lead Assessor for the vehicle extrication challenge (SAESI 2013: 29th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, EXHIBITION AND NATIONAL EXTRICATION TRAINING EVENT)
• Lead Assessor for the vehicle extrication challenge (SAESI 2015: 31th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, EXHIBITION AND NATIONAL EXTRICATION TRAINING EVENT)
• Lead Assessor for the vehicle extrication challenge (SAESI 2017: 33th INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE, EXHIBITION AND NATIONAL EXTRICATION TRAINING EVENT)
During my time as an Advance Rescue Technician, having to teach and facilitate the preparation of other personnel for this environment, and having been called upon to assist in facilitation and evaluation of various courses to other providers, national and international I discovered that I have a good teaching technique, and that I very much enjoy training and teaching others.
I firmly believe that I can make a positive contribution to the general standard of practice by being involved in the shaping and education of personnel in the out-of-hospital environment.
Oscar Campillo (ALAREV) – Technical Assessor, Colombia
International specialist in vehicle rescue with over a decade of experience in competitions, training, assessment, and scenario design for world-class rescue events. Certified Assessor by the World Rescue Organization (WRO), leader in the development of evaluation guidelines used by over 25 countries. Active member of Latin American Vehicular Rescue Association (ALAREV) and Technical Educator in vehicle rescue operations.
Captain at Chinchina Volunteer Fire Brigade in Colombia with more of 30 years of experience.
International Experience in Vehicle Rescue
As Participant
Challenges:
* Clearwater, Florida (USA) – 2013
* London (UK) – 2014
* Lisbon (Portugal) – 2015
– Co-founder of the Latin American Vehicle Rescue Team. Participated in WRO World Rescue
As International WRO ASSESSOR
Completed Assessor Training Course – WRO, Ireland, 2016
First certified WRO International Assessor in Latin America
WRC Technical Assessor Rumania 2017
WRC Virtual Challenge – 2021
WRC Technical Assessor Luxembourg – 2022
Regional Championship – Valencia, Spain – 2023
Command Assessor – Dubai National Rescue Challenge, February 2025
Appointed Technical Assessor WRC Croacia September 2025
Latin American Challenges – Mexico (2015), Colombia (2016), Brazil (2016), Paraguay (2016–
2019), Chile (2023–2024), Brazil (2025)
Leadership in WRO
– Leader of the WRO QAA Group since 2023. Developer of:
* New Assessment Guidelines
* Scoring Sheets
* Scenario Weighting Tools
– Documents applied in the World Rescue Challenge – Lanzarote, Spain (2023
Scenario Design and Events
– Designed and built all rescue scenarios – NAVRA (North American Vehicle Rescue Association),
October 2021Educational Contributions
– Member of the WRO Academy – creator of technical and educational content for global dissemination
– Academic Coordinator and Instructor at RESCUE MASTERCLASS LLC:
* Over 8 specialized vehicle rescue courses
* 40 technical workshops on specific rescue topics
Memberships and Associations
– Co-founder of the Latin American Association of Vehicle Rescue (ALAREV)
– Co-founder of the Colombian Association of Vehicle Rescue
– International Assessor – ALAREV Vehicle Rescue Events.
– Leader of WRO Quality Assessing Group
Cristian Caldararu (SMURD) – Technical Assessor, Romania
“My name is Cristian CALDARARU, I represent SMURD, Romania and I have been an international assessor since 2018. I have over 16 years’ experience in extrication and first aid.
I love my job, and the motto that guides me is the SMURD motto:
“ Who saves a life saves a whole world.”
Adrian Sacarea (SMURD) – Medical Assessor, Romania
Deputy at the National Training Centre for Extrication and Emergency Medicine in Romania, Adrian Sacarea is an experienced paramedic who has been serving in the field since 2008. A former international competitor with the Mureș Extrication Team, he represented Romania in world rescue challenges in UK, Brazil, and Romania.
Since 2018, he has worked as an assessor, regionally and nationally yearly and as a WRO assessor in South Africa (shadow) and Azores-Portugal in 2024 as medical assessor, supporting the development of high standards in emergency response training.
Adrian has been involved in numerous training programs, including Mass Casualty Incident management, “First responders- Train the Trainers” in Ukraine, Cooperative interventions of emergency services in Mauritania, and multiple workshops on extrication throughout Romania.
He has also contributed to several European projects focused on integrated emergency response, civilian resilience in disaster situations, paramedics development training and youth medical education. Adrian is a key member of an Emergency Medical Team operating under the European Civil Protection Mechanism, playing an essential role in cross-border response and medical cooperation.
Manuel Pons (APRAT) – Medical Assessor, Spain
Anthony Byrne (ROI) – Medical Assessor, Ireland
Anthony Byrne, Dip- P; H-Dip-AP; Dip-OHS, M.Ed.
My name is Anthony Byrne, Vice Chair Person of Rescue Organisation Ireland (ROI), I am a medical/trauma assessor with ROI and World Rescue Organisation (WRO). My day job is the Senior Tactical Manager, with responsibility for daily Tactical and Operations response of the National Ambulance Service (NAS) Nationally to all emergencies within the Irish Republic including response to Major Emergencies. I have a keen interest in Tactical and Strategic Emergency Management, CBRN and represent NAS on Interagency/ Health Service Executive committees developing protocols and procedure for Major Emergency Response.
My professional qualification includes a Diploma- Paramedic; Higher Diploma – Advanced Paramedic, University College Dublin; Master’s (Hons) in Education, Trinity College Dublin; Lean Six Sigma (Green Belt) and Diploma Occupational Health & Safety.
I am a registered Pre-Hospital Emergency Care – Clinical Education Facilitator since 2016 and practicing Advanced Paramedic since 2008. Over my 24 years experience in EMS I have developed and implemented programmes of education and curriculum within NAS and have project managed the implementation of equipment and clinical care programmes in Pre- Hospital Emergency Care both in Ireland and in Pakistan working voluntarily with Disaster Relief Pakistan developing EMS curriculum, regulations and organisational structures.
Richard Fernandez (NAVRA) – Medical Assessor, USA
Richard served the City of Coral Gables Fire Department located in Miami Dade County for 32 years retiring July 2024. A 35 year veteran of the fire service, Richard has worked in many capacities during his career. With Coral Gables Fire Department he has held the rank of FF/Paramedic, Driver/Engineer Air-tech, and Lieutenant assigned as the Public information/education officer. With the Training Division Richard served as Training Lieutenant and later promoted to the EMS division as the departments EMS Captain. Richard joined the department’s Special Response Team in 1995 competing as a Medic, Technical Rescue Specialist and Incident Commander for many years in regional, national and international events. In 2016 Richard took over as Coordinator for departments SRT Team. As a volunteer firefighter, Richard served as the Deputy Fire Chief of the Key Largo Volunteer Fire Rescue Department. His Responsibilities included Operations, Training, Budget and Strategic Planning. Richard also works for Palm Beach State College where he is a part time faculty member teaching courses in Fire Fighting Minimum Standards, Special Operations, Shipboard Firefighting and Live Fire Training.
Richard’s certifications include: Paramedic, ACLS, PALS, PHTLS, Fire Service-Instructor I, Fire Service-Inspector, VMR Ops/Tech, Rope, Trench, Structural Collapse and Confined space Operations, Technical Rescue Instructor, National Certified Flight Medic and Live Fire Instructor. Richard holds an Associate in Science degree in Emergency Medical Services, as well as attending the United States National Fire Academy where he has been certified in Incident Command courses to include: Fire Command, Command of Multiple Alarm Incidents, Command and Control of target Hazards, and Command and Control of Natural and man-made disasters and is certified as an All Hazards Operations Section Chief.
Richard has been a member of both TERC and NAVRA rescue associations serving as a competitor, Regional, National and International Assessor and Instructor.
Richard is currently the Director of Operations for Interamerican Firefighters Inc. A company dedicated to providing training and consulting in an assortment of Fire Service and EMS Disciplines. Registered in the USA and Colombia, Interamerican Firefighters Inc. has provided consulting and training services for fire departments in the USA, Mexico, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Panama, Argentina, Chili, Paraguay, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Jamaica and Trinidad. Additionally, he has delivered training projects for the United States Northern and Southern Commands in their response zones.
Fabian Hoffman (SAMRO) – Medical Assessor, South Africa
Fabian Hoffman has 31 years of experience in the Emergency Medical and Rescue Service since 1994. Presenting Rescue courses for 16 years’ experience in the pre-hospital environment at Advance Life Support level and Advance Rescue Technician 16 years’ experience as a rescue instructor, working also as an Advance Medical Rescue Technician.
Join South African Medical Rescue Organization (SAMRO) and become a world rescue assessor in 2016 for Command, Technical and Medical. I have been an assessor for several events, regional national and international, including WRC. It’s an honor to have been selected as an international assessor again for Croatia 2025, and I’m excited to share knowledge and skills with you at this event. See you soon in Karlovac Croatia.
Laetitia Tillard (FNSPF) – Medical Assessor, France
DIPLOMAS
Yves Marx (Luxembourg Fire Rescue Corps – CGDIS) – Deputy Trauma Lead, Luxembourg
Born in 1975, I joined the Fire & Rescue Services as a volunteer in 1989, two years later, in 1991 I joined the Luxembourg Red Cross Ambulance Service. Besides being a volunteer I became Deputy Lead of the Ambulance Service and our Fire Station for many years.
In 1998 I joined the Luxembourg Red Cross Rescue Dogs Unit where until 2018 I was the Deputy Head of and besides national interventions, I was team leader for search and rescue missions with the Rescue Dogs unit after the earthquakes in Algeria (2003), Iran (2003), Maroc (2004) and Haiti (2010).
Working at the Luxembourg Fire and Rescue Corps (CGDIS) I was for 6 years the head of the logistics and technical service of the national fire and rescue school and now in charge of the logistics at the General Directors Office.
In 2014 I joined the LRO (Luxembourg Rescue Organisation), where I became a Member of the Committee and Trauma Coordinator in 2016. After becoming a national Trauma Asssessor I got named Medical & Trauma Assessor by the WRO in 2015. Member of the WRO Committee since 2023 I got named WRO Deputy Trauma Lead the same year.
Mick Tobin (ROI) – Trauma Assessor, Ireland
Working as a civil servant in the Irish Health Service for over 32 years. I have gained knowledge and education from many various areas. Working in areas from theatre, casualty, wards, management and over 18 years as a front-line paramedic with the National Ambulance Service. The knowledge I have gained has been put to work in education and tutoring in frontline services. Retiring in 2019, I have concentrated all my time into training in the EMS services. Qualifying as an assessor in medical and trauma at the WRO challenge in Lisbon in 2015.
I am honoured as Director of Operations for the ROI, to be given the opportunity to represent Rescue Organisation Ireland as an assessor in the first WRC Triage challenge.
Mick Tobin
Director of operations
Rescue Organisation Ireland
Pete Sherlock (ROI) – Trauma Assessor, Ireland
He is an operational District Officer in Dublin Fire Brigade,Ireland.
He is stationed in Finglas fire station, which is part of Foxtrot District which is made up of five fire stations.
He has 27 years’ experience working in the Emergency Services in Ireland, 4 years in EMS and 23 years in FIRE-EMS.
Pete is a PHECC tutor since 2007, teaching from CFR level up to Paramedic level, he is also an AHA and IHF instructor for the past 19 years.
During his time in the fire service he has been a syndicate instructor on the Fire side and a Paramedic tutor on the medical side of recruit firefighter training .
He is heavily involved in the research and design of his brigade’s ambulance fleet.
Joining the ROI in 2017 he is an assessor in Medical and Trauma disciplines .
Tessy Stein (Luxembourg Fire Rescue) – Trauma Assessor, Luxembourg
Tessy Stein, 29, has been an active member of the Luxembourg Fire Brigade since 2011. With a background in physiotherapy, she worked in the field for four years before becoming a professional trainer with the Luxembourg Rescue Service in 2022. Since 2012, she has regularly competed in the Luxembourg Trauma and Rescue Challenge and has qualified for the World Rescue Challenge on four occasions. Since 2024, she has also been serving as a Trauma and Medical assessor for both the Luxembourg Rescue Organisation and the World Rescue Organisation.
Uiorean Mircea Cristian (Romania) – Trauma Assessor, Romania
My name is Uiorean Mircea Cristian, and I am a 37 years old emergency medicine consultant in Romania, working in ED, Mobile Intensive care Unit and HEMS. It’s a great honour to be selected as trauma Assessor in Croatia, and looking forward to see the best trauma teams in the world together, in the same place.
Great achievements for all of you to be here, but don’t forget, your objective is to be the best of the best!
Looking forward to seeing you. Good luck!
Jake Turner (UKRO) – Trauma Assessor, UK
Dr. Dacian Juca,
Medic Primar Medicina de Urgenta; Medic Sef UPU-SMURD Maramures; Trainer Medical of the Emergency Department, Maramures, Romania – Trauma Assessor
Dr. Dacian Juca is a seasoned emergency physician and head of the Emergency Department at Maramureș County Hospital. With extensive experience in trauma care, advanced life support, disaster response, and prehospital medicine, he is dedicated to advancing emergency services through training, innovation, and international collaboration. Passionate about improving patient outcomes in critical situations, he actively supports the development of multidisciplinary trauma and extrication teams.