Recent News

11 June 2009 - Can we halt this worrying statistic – 500 + ??

[2008 was a record year with over 460 incidents – 2009 shows a 22% increase already]

The Lake District Search and Mountain Rescue Association (LDSAMRA) is seeing an extraordinary increase in the numbers of ‘999’ callouts. Incidents for the first 3 months of 2009 are up by 22% compared to the same period last year which in itself was a problem year for the 12 teams. 113 incidents up to the 31st March 2009 compared to 93 in 2008.

The teams will cope but at what cost?

Summer is here, the numbers of tourists to the region is expected to soar – the challenge events continue to draw participants in their thousands. Walkers and climbers must treat the mountains with the respect they deserve and be appropriately prepared, experienced and equipped. Teams will and can deal with multiple callouts but it will become increasingly more difficult if we can’t halt this worrying trend.

Public awareness / Safety awareness is the key

Unfortunately the message of being prepared and appropriately equipped and experienced that we have been passing out to the public over the past two years does not seem to be having the desired effect.

Richard Warren
Chairman LDSAMRA

30 March 2009 - TEESDALE & WEARDALE SEARCH & MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM

NE RESCUE TEAMS JOIN YORK SEARCH

Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team were one of five mountain rescue teams from the North East involved in the search for missing York chef Claudia Lawrence. Miss Lawrence, 35 was last seen more than a week ago in York. Sixty five mountain rescue team volunteers from Teesdale, Swaldale, Northumberland, Scarborough and Cleveland spent today (Thursday) searching land along the route between Claudia\'s home and her work at York University. Dave Bartles-Smith leader of the Teesdale Team said \"In the past our search skills were predominantly used in upland areas. However in the past few years these skills have been successfully adapted to searching in lowland areas\".

18 March 2009 - Rescuers Keeping Cornwall Safe

Cornwall Search and Rescue Team (CSRT) has been kept busy during a recent spate of call outs across Bodmin Moor.

Team members spent two days searching for a male believed to be wild camping in the vicinity of Hawks Tor, near Temple. The search, which involved over 40 searchers and two search and rescue dogs was stood down when the male was located safe and well through police enquiries.

Chairman, Andy Brelsford said \"Unusually, after the call out we actually received a letter from the gentleman apologising for the trouble he had put us to. We don\'t normally hear anything from the people we look for, but it was nice that on this occasion, our efforts were recognised and appreciated.\"

On Saturday afternoon, a 32 year old male fell and broke his ankle whilst leading a youth group on Brown Willy, the highest point on Bodmin Moor. The group were well equipped for the conditions however the thick fog meant that the air ambulance was unable to reach them.

The volunteers from CSRT were called to help stretcher the casualty to a Sea King rescue helicopter from RMB Chivenor, and walk the remainder of the group from the hill, the entire rescue lasting around three hours.

The next call out was on midday Wednesday on the moor near Minions to locate a missing male who had reported himself lost in the fog after leaving Minions car park earlier in the morning. He was able to explain the rough route he had taken which rescue team members calculated to put him just west of Witheybrook Marsh. A brief lift in the fog enabled the lone walker to spot a nearby farm which he headed towards just as rescuers were sent out to find him.

The call outs come just as Cornwall Search and Rescue Team announces the launch of its new Moorland Safety Leaflet which was made possible from a Cornwall Community Foundation Grassroutes Grant.

The leaflet, which provides basic safety tips for anyone heading out onto the moors, will be available from a number of tourist information centres, accomodation providers and local attractions as well as the team’s website.

Team Leader Jim Gallienne commented: \"2008 was our busiest year on record with 61 call outs. We have a number of initiatives coming up with local community organisations and other emergency services which we hope will help to reduce some of the call outs by providing simple safety advice which could help prevent some of the avoidable shouts we get\".

12 February 2009 - Mountain rescue: a piece of mint cake

It has been a source of nourishment and sustenance for fellwalkers for generations, and now a humble confectionery bar could be a lifesaver.

http://www.grough.co.uk/view/2009/02/11/mountain-rescue-a-piece-of-mint-cake/

25 January 2009 - 25.1.09

TEESDALE & WEARDALE SEARCH & MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM

MISSING MAN FOUND FOLLOWING SEARCH

Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team have been coordinating a search overnight for a man missing from home in Easington Colliery, County Durham. The middle aged man was last seen when he left his home at 1.30pm Saturday and did not return. The Teesdale & Weardale team and the police searched the area around Easington Colliery overnight in driving rain. When the man had not been found by first light mountain rescue teams from Cleveland, Northumberlad and Swaledale were called in to assist. More than 50 mountain rescue volunteers with 5 mountain rescue search dogs with police support expanded the search area at first light.
At around 11.30 am the Police helicopter picked up a heat source and within a few minutes a mountain rescue team located the missing man near a stream to the south of Easington Colliery. The man was airlifted by the police helicopter to a waiting ambulance where he was taken to Hartlepool General Hospital.
Dave Bartles Smith Weardale & Teesdale team leader said \" This is the second major search we have been involved in this week. On both occasions the mountain rescue community can together to deliver a successful outcome. It is gratifying to know that volunteers will freely give up there time and travel many miles out of their own area in order to search for missing people.\"

20 January 2009 - New Year Honours from our area

Dec 31 2008 by Neil Atkinson, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CELEBRATING A NEW YEAR WITH HONOURS

HE has spent more than 40 years rescuing people stranded on the beautiful but rugged moors around Huddersfield.

Now mountain rescue volunteer Barry Gregory is making the news himself – as a new MBE recipient.

Mr Gregory, who will be 64 on January 1, receives the honour today in the New Year Honours list for his work with the Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team.

Mr Gregory, of Popley Drive, Meltham, first volunteered with the old Huddersfield Scout Rescue Unit when he was just 19.

Since then he has devoted much of his life to the rescue movement – working not only with the Woodhead team, where he is currently treasurer and was chairman, but also with the Peak District organisation which looks after a huge slice of northern England.

“I have been involved in many rescues and searches but this honour has come as a great surprise.

“After 40 odd years in the job, praise is not the reason you do it. But it’s been a major part of my life and I’m delighted to be recognised”.

Mr Gregory, who is married to Susan and has two daughters, Joanne and Kay, is general manager of a firm making window and door frames.

20 January 2009 - From the BBC Wales website, first posted 11th January 2009

Rescuers Injured Helping Climbers

Ian Henderson, of Llanberis Mountain Rescue, describes operation and injuries to rescuers.

Eight rescuers were hurt as they helped two injured climbers down from near the summit of Snowdon in a dramatic night time operation.
Forty eight rescuers battled ice and gales to help the 27-year-old men to safety just after midnight on Sunday.
Ian Henderson, of Llanberis Mountain Rescue, said one of the injured rescuers had possible broken ribs.
The walkers suffered fractures in a 100m (328ft) fall after being blown off an icy path in winds of up to 110mph.
The wind strength and low cloud meant the rescue helicopter could not get close to where the men were stranded.
It is understood one suffered a suspected fractures of the wrist, fingers and femur and the other was believed to have a broken collarbone and ankle.
They had to hobble down the mountain in splints as it was deemed too dangerous to carry them on stretchers.

They are now being treated at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor.
Four mountain rescue teams - Llanberis, Ogwen, Aberglaslyn and RAF Valley - were called out to take part in the eight-hour rescue operation near the 3,560ft peak on Saturday evening.
The walkers had fallen near the upper part of the Pyg Track, which leads to Snowdon\'s summit, but were able to call for help.
It took around three hours for rescuers to reach them because of the conditions and darkness.
They then had to hobble down the mountainside, helped by the rescuers.
\"They just got on with the job and didn\'t make a fuss,\" said Mr Henderson.

\"Eight of the rescuers were hurt because they were blown over. One girl was blown 20ft (6m). One of the rescuers has torn ligaments in his ankle and another is being checked over for suspected broken ribs.\"
He said the two walkers, who were very experienced and well equipped, were recovering well.
\"One of the guys who had been visited in hospital this morning was described as looking like he had done 12 rounds with Mike Tyson,\" added Mr Henderson.
Earlier rescues
Before the rescue of the pair, members of Llanberis mountain rescue team also had to guide to safety a stranded party of five from the Leicester area, who had become stuck 2,000ft high.
They were detected by infra-red equipment aboard an RAF Sea King helicopter based at Valley in Anglesey.
A 14-year-old boy who had becoming separated from his father on the mountain was also found after making his own way down.
And a stranded party of five from the Leicester area, who had become stuck 2,000ft up, were guided to safety after being detected by infra-red equipment on the helicopter.
Mr Henderson appealed for walkers to check the weather forecast and mountain conditions before attempting to climb Snowdon. He said they expected it to remain icy over the coming days and urged people to dress appropriately and carry the correct equipment.  

12 January 2009 - Sunday 11 January 2009

Rescue on Scafell Pike in 78mph winds.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team were called out at 17.15 this afternoon to rescue two walkers who were lost near the summit of Scafell Pike in darkness, heavy rain and storm force winds. The missing walkers had a GPS but no torch or map. The two walkers were located uninjured at 20.10 near the summit and escorted off the mountain. A gust with a windspeed of 73mph was recorded on the mountain, hurricane force on the Beaufort Scale and the heavy rain throughout the day had made the stream crossings extremely dangerous.

5 January 2009 - Forgetful walker calls mountain rescuers

1:10pm Thursday 1st January 2009

By Beth Abbit Westmorland Gazette

A MAN in Ambleside phoned mountain rescuers for help when he forgot the name of his holiday cottage.

Langdale and Ambleside Mountain Rescue Team were contacted at around 5.20pm on New Year’s Eve when the man - who had gone for a walk from his holiday cottage – got lost in the dark.

Rescuers advised the man to knock on the door of a house with lights on and ask for directions.

19 December 2008 - TEESDALE & WEARDALE SEARCH & MOUNTAIN RESCUE TEAM

MISSING STANHOPE MAN FOUND

Teesdale & Weardale Search & Mountain Rescue Team have been carrying out a search overnight for a missing 81 year old man. The gentleman was last see at his home in Stanhope Co. Durham just after lunch yesterday.(Thursday).
19 Rescue Team volunteers and 3 mountain rescue search dogs searched for 8 hours last night assisted by police officers and the air support unit.The search recommences at first light with the assistance of neighbouring mountain rescue team.
Stephen Marrs Rescue Team Controller said \"We had started to go over ground searched during the night and expand our search with the help of the Cleveland Team when a friend of the gentleman\'s family found him close to a quarry to the North of the town. We were able to get one of our medics to the scene within a few minutes. We decided that the safest option was to carry the gentleman to the Police helicopter which had landed 200m from the scene. Because of a steep slope we were assisted by a number of police officers and an ambulance crew. The man was taken to James Cook hospital by the police helicopter\".

20 August 2008 - Birthday Rescue on Helvellyn

On Tuesday 19th August Patterdale mountain rescue team were called to rescue a man who was celebrating his 75th birthday on Helvellyn. The man from Nottingham slipped and injured his hip. He was unable to walk and passing walkers and family helped him to the summit shelter.

An Air ambulance lifted the team and kit to The Hole in the Wall. From here the team members continued to the summit along Striding Edge.

Patterdale rescue team treated the man at the summit shelter and with the help of Penrith team members stretchered the man along the ridge to Brown Cove where the stretcher was roped 250 metres down the fell.

After being reunited with his wife he was transported to the Rescue Centre by team ambulance and then taking by County ambulance to Cumberland Infirmary Carlisle

footnote: Coincidentally Mountain Rescue (England & Wales) is also celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.
__________________________________________________________________

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team

13 May 2008 - MR Video Released

A video about MR featuring Lakes Teams has been released. You can see a copy of it here

A copy to download will be available on this site shortly.

23 July 2007 - Local West Country Volunteer Mountain Rescue Teams in Flood Action

Teams from Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue (A&S SAR) based in Bristol, S Glos, BANES, N Somerset & Mendip, together with Severn Area Rescue Association\'s (SARA) teams stations based at Beachley, Sharpness and Wyre Forest (Arley) have all been working throughout North Gloucestershire and Worcestershire, alongside the local Police, Fire and Ambulance
Services since the start of the flash floods on Friday.

Each team, equipped with a four wheel drive vehicles, trailers with lifeboat or rescue boats and rescue / medical / communication equipment have been
deployed with the statuary emergency services to rescuing people of all ages from homes or stranded vehicles and attending 999 medical emergency response calls where the ambulances could not get through due to the depth of flood water. These highly trained emergency service rescue teams are all unpaid
volunteers who have been working up to 14 hour shifts before handing over their equipment to new rested teams to carry on the work continuously throughout Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Regional Officer, Alan George said: \"I am immensely proud of our teams who have all given gallant service to the community during this Major Incident. These men and women have all selflessly given their time and endured hardship and hazards. To provide this important life saving emergency service. The work has been long, hard and demanding both on the members and equipment.\"

During the period of Friday through to Sunday A&S SAR and SARA:

Recovered 800+ persons to a place of safety
Rescued 240+ persons where life was at direct risk
Attended 95+ medical emergency responses
Evacuated 50+ pets & animals
Assisted with the movement of 120+ persons from care or nursing homes

This is believed the highest recorded numbers of persons assisted or lives saved at any incident in the almost 75 year history of Mountain Rescue in
England & Wales.

1 July 2007 - Busy night for Wasdale handling 3 Peakers

Wasdale MRT was called to rescue a young male walker who had collapsed on the summit of Scafell Pike. He was in a party of three who were doing the Three Peaks Challenge. The three walkers were all in the twenties and from outside the area. One of the party had become separated from the other two whilst he was trying to get help from his mobile phone. He had a GPS but could only give a height reading. The team searched where the party said there were but did not find anyone. The team widened the search and at 3.45 a.m. the collapsed walker was found on the Eskdale side of the mountain. He was given food and warmed in a bivvy tent and could eventually be walked off the mountain down to Wasdale Head. After a further search the third missing walker was located. He was assisted back up to the summit and also walked off the mountain. Whilst searching for the collapsed walker a further group of four walkers were found sheltering in the Mickledore stretcher box. They were subsequently reported missing by the police but fortunately the team had already found them and escorted them off the mountain. The team had significant difficulty getting the rescue vehicles back down the valley due to the severe congestion on the road from Three Peaker challenge vehicles parked up

17 May 2007 - PRINCE WILLIAM BECOMES PATRON OF
MOUNTAIN RESCUE - ENGLAND & WALES

Prince William announced yesterday that he is to become patron of Mountain Rescue – England & Wales, the organisation which represents over 55 Mountain Rescue teams in those countries. The announcement follows the Prince’s work experience with an RAF mountain rescue team in the period before he joined the army, and comes as mountain rescue prepares to celebrate it’s 75th anniversary in 2008.

Chairman of Mountain Rescue – England & Wales, David Allan, commented: “It is with great delight and pride that we are able to announce that Prince William has taken on the role of Patron for Mountain Rescue in England and Wales.

For many years we have deliberated whether mountain rescue should seek a patron who holds a prominent position in the country. These discussions have always foundered because we have been certain that we could only work with someone who empathised with mountain rescue and its raison d’etre

We believe that, apart from the honour bestowed, there will be very tangible benefits to mountain rescue. We also sincerely hope that Prince William will gain from his association with our organisation. He has expressed a desire to be involved and to meet the people who deliver the service on the hill and we look forward to that.”

7 May 2007 - 4th May 2007

Broad Stand is a deceptively difficult route between Scafell and Scafell Pike. For many years it has been one of the accident black spots in Wasdale.

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team were called out at 2.15 pm after a report of a 59 year old male walker having fallen from Broad Stand. Great North Air Ambulance was used to ferry 4 team members to the scene before an RAF Seaking helicopter from RAF Boulmer arrived to ferry more team members to the accident site.

The casualty was treated on scene by a doctor from the Wasdale team before being flown direct to West Cumberland Hospital at Whitehaven. Unfortunately the casualty failed to recover from his injuries.

22 February 2007 - The Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue team hold their annual Falcon Flier challenge walk on the 5th of May - a 26 mile walk round the Eastern side of the North York Moors.

The money raised will go towards getting a new team ambulance.

Entry forms are on the teams web site at http://www.srmrt.org.uk/

22 February 2007 - Monday 19 February 2007

Family of 4 brought to safety in atrocious weather

Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team were called out at 19.30 last night to search for a family of 4, mother, father, 5 year old son and 14 month baby who were reported missing having last been seen on the summit of Scafell Pike at 16.00. After searching for 2 hours in very poor weather conditions of heavy rain and thick cloud the party were found uninjured in Piers Gill, a notorious accident “black spot” in the Wasdale valley.
Although unhurt, the family was very cold and wet, and evacuation from the steep and rocky gill took some time.
The 5 year old was carried down by stretcher, mum and dad walked and the 14 month toddler slept through it all!
The family were given food and warm drinks by the Wasdale Head Inn who kindly agreed to stay open until 0400 in the morning.

The family were fortunate in having spoken to a fellow fellwalker earlier in the day who raised the alarm when he recognised that their car had not been moved long after dark.

In total 19 team members from the Wasdale team, 14 from Duddon and Furness, 9 from the Keswick team and 4 dogs with handlers from SARDA (Lakes) took part in the 9 hour rescue.

29 December 2006 - Boxing Day Rescue

Wasdale team were called out by Cumbria Police to rescue an injured person on Kirk Fell. The middle aged walker was descending from the summit of Kirk Fell down towards Blacksail Pass. The man, his son and girlfriend were descending via Sail Beck, in a steep gulley which leads from Baysoar Slack when he slipped on the ice and sustained a serious head injury and other less severe injuries. The son raised the alarm, running down to the valley bottom and then returning to the accident site. 19 members of the Wasdale team were involved in the rescue including the four team doctors who were crucial to casualty care management in this incident. The cloud was down to 1,000 feet and casualty location was 1,800 feet so helicopter evacuation was not possible. Freezing level was around 700 feet which had coated all the paths and rocks with a thin layer of verglass ice, extremely slippery underfoot. Due to the serious nature of his injuries, the team leader called in assistance from the Cockermouth Mountain Rescue team (around 8 - 10 team members). In addition a Sea King helicopter was called in from Royal Navy Gannet, Prestwick to land-on in the Ennerdale Valley bottom and await the stretcher party. The injured walker was airlifted at around 8.45 p.m. to be flown the 10 minute journey to West Cumberland Hospital. The incident was closed at 10.30 p.m. Thanks go to The Royal Navy and Cockermouth Team for their assistance.

12 October 2006 - News Update

In the life of any organisation, there are ups and downs. Monday 9th October was definitely in the latter category for Cornwall Search & Rescue Team.

Ironically, as the police were paging us for the 39th call-out this year (1 short of our 2004 total) we learned that our Control Vehicle had been broken into.
Thieves had forced entry to the compound where it is stored and broken in to the vehicle, which has only been in service since the start of this year.
They stole 6 Icom Radios, complete with spare batteries, carrying case & charger unit, a fuel card and blue lights from the front and side of the vehicle. Some damage has been caused to the van in the process.

The vehicle, a Peugeot Boxer high-top van, became a crime scene and so we could not use it to respond to the call-out in the Portreath area. It may be a cliché to say but this irresponsible act DID put lives at risk. Luckily, we have two vehicles and our Landrover was able to attend the incident but of course with only half the kit we would normally take.

We are pleased to report a happy ending to the search (the man turned up safe and well) and we would appeal to the thieves to consider what they have done and return the items stolen – they can be of no possible use to them.

In the meantime, we would like to thank Hawkins Motors for their ongoing support to the team and to Devon & Cornwall Police for the swift way in which the theft was dealt with.

27 February 2006 - Camera flash locates lost walkers

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4747112.stm

27 February 2006 - Llanberis team rescues children on Snowdon.

See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/4741764.stm

6 February 2006 -

31 January 2006 - Sunday 29th January 2006

Edale Team respond to two incidents at Curbar Gap

First Incident

EMRT was called out this morning at 10:38 to help a woman, 57, from Loughborough, who had been walking on Big Moor with her husband when she injured her leg.

She was treated for her injury at the scene by team members before being carried on the stretcher to Curbar Gap for transport to hospital in Chesterfield by ambulance.

Second Incident

Immediately afterwards the team responded quickly to a report that a man had suffered a cardiac arrest less than a kilometre away from Curbar Gap on Baslow Edge. The team doctor, team members and air ambulance paramedics provided advanced life support for the man for over half an hour, during which our new defibrillator was used. Sadly, despite the dedicated attempt to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene by our team doctor, before being carried back to Curbar Gap on our stretcher.

28 November 2005 - Search & Rescue Team in thick of Action in Cornwall Blizzards

Cornwall Rescue Group, the county’s voluntary search & rescue team, were amongst the many emergency resources deployed on Friday as Cornwall suffered blizzards which left hundreds of motorists stranded across Bodmin Moor.

Barely two weeks after putting out an appeal for help to find a new base, the volunteers from CRG showed just why there is a need for their service as their off-road ambulances and fully equipped rescue teams supported colleagues from other emergency services battling to deal with the hundreds of incidents arising from the arctic conditions.

CRG Team Leader, Jim Gallienne, explains. “We were called in mid-afternoon to assist with a rapidly deteriorating situation. Fortunately, we operate two Landrover ambulances which are capable of responding to off-road incidents and so though conditions were difficult we were able to respond to a variety of taskings.

“We based ourselves at Bodmin Police Station and had teams responding to calls ranging from an overturned fire engine to a stranded mother and baby.
Working alongside collegues from Police, Fire, Ambulance and Coastguard, our team members worked on late into the night before eventually being stood down, ” said Jim.

Team members came from all over the county to assist. Alison Harrison from Newquay found herself accompanying a police patrol checking abandoned vehicles on the A30 whilst her partner, Steve Payne spent much of the night transporting cold, tired and hungry people to the reception centre set up in Bodmin.

CRG Chairman, Andy Brelsford, said “Jim and I were in the Lake District at the start of the day having earlier attended a Mountain Rescue training session on avalanches, blizzards and treatment of hypothermic casualties. Little did we know how quickly that specialist knowledge might be needed. We came straight back to the county as soon as we heard what was happening.”

But as team members made their way home to catch some well earned rest, they were already preparing for further duties. Deputy Team Leader Paul Deakin, from Redruth, said “The first thing we do after every call-out is prepare for the next. That is why we are desperate to find a suitable base.

“Although we have done as much as we can tonight, it is almost certain that we will be involved again tomorrow and we need to recharge torches & radios and replenish first aid kits. Without a base of our own, we have to rely on members to do those things at home which is less than ideal.”

Although only operational since November 2003, this is the second time the volunteers from CRG have been involved in a major incident having attended the Boscastle floods in August 2004.

You can find out more about the work of Cornwall Rescue Group from their website – www.cornwallrescuegroup.org.uk

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