Each December, our annual Ruth Lee Photo of the Year tradition brings together some of the most powerful rescue training images shared with us throughout the year. Drawn from photos featured across our social media channels — including our long-running #FridayFavouritePhoto series — the competition celebrates realistic training, teamwork, and the dedication of rescue professionals worldwide.
Once again, the response from the global rescue community has been incredible. After counting all eligible votes, we’re delighted to announce the winners of the Ruth Lee Photo of the Year 2025.
Congratulations to SICS Firenze – Forte dei Marmi, Italy
The winning image, captured by Valentina Cagnoni, shows two rescue swimmers working alongside their highly trained rescue dogs to tow a Man Overboard (MOB) manikin through the water. The photograph perfectly encapsulates what this competition stands for: realism in training, strong teamwork, and the exceptional bond between handlers and their dogs.
It’s also impossible to ignore the appeal of rescue dogs in action — something that resonated strongly with voters across our community. The image quickly gained momentum during voting, supported by an incredibly engaged and passionate SICS community, which we were thrilled to see.
A Community That Champions Training
One of the most rewarding aspects of this year’s competition was the level of engagement shown around this entry. Seeing teams proudly share their training, support one another, and champion the importance of realistic rescue preparation is exactly why this competition has become such a valued annual tradition for us.
The winning manikin will be supplied by our Italian distributor, Sofrapa, who continues to support high-quality rescue training across the region.
Words from the Winners
Following their win, the team at SICS Firenze – Forte dei Marmi shared the following message:
“Una bellissima notizia! Tutto il team SICS ringrazia, faremo del nostro meglio in futuro a promuovere le vostre attrezzature.
Buon Natale a Voi.”
Salvo Gennaro – President, SICS
Translation:
“Wonderful news! The entire SICS team would like to thank you. We will do our best in the future to promote your equipment.
Merry Christmas to you.”
Thank You to Our Global Rescue Community
We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who submitted photos, voted, shared posts, and continues to tag us in their training images throughout the year. Your photos not only inspire our team, but also help showcase the importance of realistic, scenario-based training across the global rescue community.
As we look ahead to another year of #FridayFavouritePhoto features and training highlights, we’re already excited to see what 2026 will bring.
Congratulations once again to SICS Firenze – Forte dei Marmi — a truly deserving winner of Ruth Lee Photo of the Year 2025.