Oscar was no slouch, but Grimsby rescue group in need of a new dummy

Oscar's no dummy.

OK, well technically he is, but the longtime member of the Grimsby Auxiliary Marine Rescue Unit (GAMRU), still knows when it's time to hang em up. After years of being run over by boats, poked with poles and left in the freezing lake water, he's been scarred by propellers, had his clothes shredded, been roughed up and left in undignified positions.

GAMRU, the group of volunteers who provide search and rescue support each summer on Lake Ontario, is retiring Oscar, the rescue training mannequin they've used for as long as anyone can remember.

If there's an award for stoicism, commitment and quiet courage, we would nominate our Oscar," said unit leader Sean Coffey. He's been subjected to the most difficult conditions imaginable. He has been pulled, pushed and dragged. He's been poked and bumped and run over. And he's been instrumental in training literally dozens of recruits in real-life rescue work."

Mannequins like Oscar are an essential part of the training curriculum, GAMRU members said. Rescues on the water can be a delicate procedure, with victims who might be terrified, hurt or suffering from hypothermia. Careful handling is key and mannequins provide that hands-on training.

While Oscar and mannequins like him provide an extremely valuable training service for members, deputy unit leader Doug Mepham said his retirement tour also doubles as a way to have some fun for a team that typically is fairly serious.

And it's a great opportunity to show people what we do," he said.

GAMRU released a video showcasing Oscar, and Mepham said they have a retirement party planned in February at a local bar where Oscar is sure to tip a few back. They're unsure exactly how long Oscar's been around, but the best guess is 28 years, meaning he's earned his retirement.

The cost to get a new Oscar is around $2,000 and a fundraising campaign has recently kicked off. It got an early boost with a $750 grant from the Niagara Community Foundation's mini-grants program, but volunteers are appealing to the public to raise the remaining funds.

Donations can be made at gamru.ca/donations and the group's progress will be updated through its social media channels.

Mepham said they hope to have a replacement ready for the start of in-water training, which begins in the spring, usually before the start of May.

We spend a lot of time teaching our new people and reminding our current people of the importance of the delicacy with which this has to be done," he said.

They'll also have to come up with a name for the new mannequin, which Mepham said the team is looking forward to.

As for Oscar's retirement plans, that's still up in the air.

He's keeping his cards really close to his chest, which is covered at the moment with a PFD (personal flotation device)."