Canterbury, 2 October - Coastguard Sumner is proud to announce that volunteer Daniel Manchester and his employer, ProForm Group, have been named finalists in the prestigious DroneDeploy Horizons 2025 Awards, in the ‘Guardians of Safety’ category.
This category celebrates organisations and individuals who use drone technology to reduce risk and protect people in hazardous environments. Finalists are recognised for replacing dangerous manual inspections with reality capture solutions that improve safety outcomes.
Daniel and ProForm Group earned this recognition for their innovative use of drone technology to survey and create a detailed 3D model of the coastline surrounding Coastguard Sumner - including hazardous sea cliffs and rocky shorelines. This model is a valuable search and rescue tool, enabling teams to visualise terrain when planning operations and enhancing training for volunteers.
In his own time, Daniel transformed the model into a video-game style training simulation for drone pilots. This immersive tool helps prepare operators for real-world scenarios and reinforces safe flying practices. DroneDeploy highlighted the simulation as one of its favourite features.
“This recognition is a testament to Coastguard Sumner’s commitment to innovation and safety,” said Blair Quane, Coastguard Sumner President. “Daniel’s work exemplifies how cutting-edge technology can support volunteer marine rescue and improve outcomes for those in need.”
Further development of the simulation is underway, including flight planning challenges and realistic operational scenarios. The training will also incorporate game mechanics that simulate consequences for violating CAA regulations or Coastguard protocols - reinforcing compliance in an engaging and educational format.
Daniel is a licensed professional drone pilot and serves as Drone Operations Manager for Coastguard Sumner.
Winners of the DroneDeploy Horizons 2025 Awards will be announced at the Horizons “After Dark” celebration, held October 28–29 at the VEA Newport Beach Resort & Spa in California.
Congratulations to Daniel and ProForm Group for pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in volunteer marine rescue.
ENDS
