Ca Mountainand eiwo h year the of Review veRescue nEgadadWales and in

Published May 2014. Suggested Donation: £2 Foreword 02 HRH The Duke of Cambridge HRH The Duke of Cambridge courtesy of Kensington Palace. Top: Sea King over Derwentwater © Keswick MRT. 03 Main shot: 04

It has been suggested that about from as far away as the Lake District 65% of people going into the hills would decamped to East Anglia when the either not be there at all, or certainly threat of coastal flooding was at its not undertaking their chosen route, if height. they were not confident that mountain Our operational success has been rescue teams were not too far away. greatly enhanced by the use of SARCALL The number of ‘casual’ visitors to the and SARLOC. Both systems are now an hills has risen and generally they are indispensable part of our armoury and less well prepared to deal with situations both have been developed entirely by when things go wrong. Although the people within mountain rescue. These The past year has seen majority of these incidents are of a volunteers have not only used their relatively benign nature, they do skills and experience but also spent mountain and cave contribute to the number of call-outs. many hundreds of hours bringing these rescue teams involved in 2013 began with snow and more invaluable systems to fruition. There are almost every imaginable snow — largely preventing people many others in mountain and cave getting to the hills at all, so there were rescue who not only put on a pair of situation both on and off relatively few winter mountaineering boots to head into the hills in the dark the hills. Whilst, thankfully, accidents. Instead teams throughout and the rain but also spend countless there has been no the country were busy assisting other hours developing and improving new significant increase in the emergency services, especially the equipment, providing training and, ambulance service. There were many above all, raising the monies without number of incidents instances during the year when the which the service could not function. overall, there have been weather, often coupled with darkness, We are, I believe, able to look forward local exceptions – for prevented the use of air rescue and to the coming years confident that the mountain rescue teams on the ground same reliable and skilled service will be instance, some teams in were the only people able to reach available. There are interesting North Wales and the casualties and those stranded. There is challenges to deal with: working with Lake District have a tendency among both the public the new SAR helicopter provision and and the press to assume helicopters revising our casualty care system are examples of responding will always be able to effect rescues. We probably the most imminent. Again I to three cries for help in know all too well this simply isn’t true. am sure these will be accomplished just twenty-four hours. The year closed with more weather and lead to even better delivery of extremes. This time water not snow rescues. created the problems. Once again teams across the country had some involvement in flood rescue. A new Main shot: Edale team deal with a fallen climber at record was set when team members Stanage © Trevor Lawton. Inset: Aberglaslyn team members deal with an avalanche rescue in February © Aberglaslyn MRT. Top: Night time stretcher carry over a narrow bridge across a ghyll © Keswick MRT.

Front cover: Team winter training in Scotland in Mountain and Cave Awareness UK MR Conference 2014: Aviemore: blizzard conditions © Andy McAlea. Weekend: This annual event takes place September: The bi-ennial conference 05 across England and Wales every May Bank brings together mountain and cave rescue Holiday weekend – a great opportunity to team members from the UK and Ireland, get to know and support your local team. with speakers travelling from across the UK, Europe and beyond, to network, educate National Training Day: Plas y and exchange information. This key feature Brenin: Saturday 28 June: A chance of our mountain rescue calendar will be Chairman for team members to network with other hosted by Mountain Rescue Scotland in teams and hone their skills. September 2014.

Princes’ Charities Forum Day: 12 July: This MREW event is hosted by DavidAllan South Wales this year, with young people and families from WellChild, Child Bereavement and Centrepoint charities Key Dates joining in the fun. This year’sfacts Highlighting mountain biking hazards The number of accidents requiring rescue team help has seen a rapid increase over 06 the last seven years, according to Ged Feeney, Statistics Officer for Mountain Rescue England and Wales, and these are probably only the tip of the iceberg of actual falls and figures and injuries. There is little doubt that this is principally due to the increased popularity of the sport and the number of participants.

The decrease in all four of the key measures of mountain In February, a briefing note to outdoors bikers and a hot spot for rescue call-outs incidents has continued for a third year. The fine weather magazines and the mountain biking is Guisborough Forest in Cleveland MRT’s press aimed to raise awareness so that area. ‘The Forest can see a dozen or so during the summer months must have made a major participants — and those looking after call-outs in a year,’ says Gari Finch. ‘The contribution to these figures. dedicated cycling trails and popular combination of long downhill stretches, routes — could understand the issues trees and speed can create all sorts of and take steps to reduce the likelihood problems. Some of the injuries seen are Mountain of future accidents. very serious and life-changing.’ The briefing note and statistical data Although some media emphasised Participation in these activities appears This steady decrease can be clearly were pulled together at the request of the negative aspects of the message, to be being maintained, so the reduction seen in the figures for rock climbing and Phil O’Brien of Bowland Pennine MRT. the intention was not to discourage points to the effects of better weather scrambling: over the five-year period, ‘We’ve an area called Gisburn Forest in mountain bikers but to indicate the conditions. These improved conditions incidents have fallen by 26%. While the Lancashire that has seen a massive growing trend and make cyclists more are more forgiving to those participants figures for hillwalking show a reduction, increase in mountain biking activity over aware of the dangers. whose preparation was less than the relative amount is much smaller at 7%. the last few years. It now has its own ‘Wearing protective head gear and adequate. However, over the same period, a café, skills area and trails and attracts a having good skills is an absolute must,’ It stands repeating that the prime causes dramatic rise of 46% has been recorded lot of visitors. This has also corresponded said Phil. ‘Our main concern is that there of incidents in British hills are a failure to with mountain biking. Admittedly a rise in to an increase in call-outs for the team. have been three fatalities in the past develop skill and experience in controlled the level of participation has been ‘One of the common injuries we see is twelve months and mountain bikers need conditions, failure to temper plans to suit equally dramatic, but, at this rate, it will not lower leg injuries where bikers have to be aware of this and plan to reduce the ability of the least able in a party and be long before mountain bike incidents come off on boardwalks, often resulting the risks to life and limb from their failure to have and know how to employ outnumber rock climbing and scrambling in a broken ankle or broken leg, or both.’ activities in the outdoors.’ the proper equipment, particularly relating incidents combined. Another popular area for mountain to map and compass.

DEPLOYMENT ANNUAL TOTALS A summary of the last five years’ mountain incidents and accidents in England and Wales. Non-mountain Facts and figures 90 Year Incidents Fatalities Injured Persons The missing person search (rural and G In the last twelve months, there have 85 assisted urban) and support for the emergency been three fatalities to mountain bikers. 80 75 services account for around 80% of the 75,807 2013 1011 22 624 1179 with ten over the last seven years. Some 70 2012 1073 30 632 1292 non-mountain workload. These two of these were riders out on their own 65 areas of activity are very demanding of and the outcome only became clear 60 2011 1078 33 671 1318 55 time and man-power, generally taking after much effort and anxiety. 2010 1118 53 658 1394 50 2009 1059 37 667 1471 much longer to complete. 45 G Riders should be aware of the severity 40 Whilst the incident figure has increased, FREQUENCY of injuries should they have an accident. 35 the number of persons assisted has While travelling at speed and with the 30 decreased. This does not show the true 25 A summary of the last five years’ non-mountain incidents and body moving head-first, a fall stands a nature of the work involved. Many of 20 accidents in England and Wales. greater likelihood of having life-changing 15 those assisted are not counted here, for Year Incidents Fatalities Injured Persons consequences, particularly noted in the 10 very practical reasons. Often, teams 5 7,974 assisted frequency of upper body injury. assist ambulance crews with access 0 07 2013 460 43 75 274 1996 1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 and evacuation, so little or no patient GMany boardwalks are covered with YEAR 2012 445 47 114 300 treatment is provided. Equally difficult is chicken wire which, in wet or frosty 2011 472 52 108 323 reconciling the numbers freed from conditions, greatly increases traction. 2010 710 44 118 335 snow drifts — at one stage, more than However, there are many boardwalks 2009 597 59 126 401 80 people were reported to be freed in that are not finished in this way and the Centre: Bolton MRT assist the ambulance service with an injured mountain biker in May. A 47-year-old female one day from snow drifts in south and was guiding a group of riders through the Rivington Terraced Gardens. They didn’t know each other very well, build-up of moss, slime and mud, can having only met on a Facebook group ‘Rivington MTB’. The casualty was the only one with any local west Cumbria and this was replicated in leave the surface with very little traction. knowledge! © Bolton MRT. Wales and the Pennine regions. Some of the most hazardous conditions for walkers and climbers are those associated with snow and ice. And that means, when the mountains are looking their most 08 dramatic, rescue teams need to be especially on the alert and ready for a call.

But how do rescuers practice their skills, the side of Aonach Mor,’ said team prepare their equipment and build up leader Mike Hill, ‘when one of our team their experience when winter conditions members who is also a dog handler was can be rare and fleeting, especially given alerted to an ongoing search for a missing UNEXPLODED BOMB that, when they do come, the call-outs male believed to be somewhere on the DISCOVERED ON MOORS: can be among the most urgent and Ring of Steall in the Mamores, not far from critical? where we were based. MAY 2013 Well, many teams head north to the ‘The Lochaber team were keen for us to Woodhead team members were Scottish Highlands, where snow and ice are help and, on arrival at their base in Fort sent to investigate the area after a a regular feature, often for several days or William, I spoke to one of the search fell runner noticed an unexploded weeks and the weather and avalanche managers who allocated an area for us shell whilst running above Langsett. conditions can be as unpredictable as to cover. We spent the next five hours anywhere else in the UK. covering particularly difficult ground to the Thankfully, the runner had provided Incident LOG We took a look at three Lakes teams who West of Steall Falls but were stood down an excellent description of the invested in ‘Scottish’ training this year. Their shortly before 15:00 and invited back to location and the item was found experiences show the commitment of the base for food. The hospitality was immediately. However, they didn’t members to ensuring they’re prepared fantastic and we headed back to Cumbria just find one shell but three, and ready, whatever the winter. having cemented a great relationship described as ‘75mm armour- Patterdale MRT visited Badaguish in with the Lochaber team. Sadly,the following piercing shells dating back to pre- Glen More, in the Cairngorms. Their focus day, the body of the missing man was World War Two’. The shells were was avalanche awareness and search located at the foot of Steall Falls.’ removed to safety by bomb skills with Charlie McLeod, training officer Kirkby Stephen MRT travelled to the disposal experts but given their with Assynt MRT, helping out and Kathy northern corries of the Cairngorms. Their size, they could have caused Grindrod explaining the work of the focus was on recognising varying snow serious injury. Scottish Avalanche Information Service. conditions, interpreting weather and The moors above Langsett, ‘Some team members went into the area avalanche information and general rescue crossed by the Cut Gate path, the day before to dig ‘snow graves’ to skills for winter conditions. were used as firing range between conceal bodies for search purposes,’ says Frank Price, training officer for the team, both world wars. Unexploded Gillian Mininch, Patterdale’s training officer, coordinated the plans for their visits north, ordnance is often found at the end ‘and the ‘piste basher’ lads prepared an using trainers from other Lakes teams. ‘It’s of winter as the shells are forced area to simulate avalanche debris.’ a good way to build links and develop a to the surface by the movement of For Eelco Docter, this was his first winter common approach to dealing with a the peat bogs. training. ‘Experiencing rescue scenarios in call-out in winter conditions.’ Woodhead leader Keith Wakeley full winter conditions was brilliant. Only For Peter Miller, it was a valuable first. weeks later, we had a call-out to Swirral ‘Staying alive is personally a high priority. said, ‘Anyone who finds a Edge on Helvellyn where the skills I’d and in severe winter conditions you have suspicious object in the Peak acquired automatically kicked in.’ to know what to do. This year’s winter skills District should contact police Penrith team members headed to course, over a snowy windswept weekend, immediately, advising them of Aonach Mor near Fort William to focus on taught essential skills that will help to keep what they believe they have found avalanche hazard assessment, belays me and others alive. It was also good fun!’ and where they have found it. and search techniques using avalanche As it has turned out, the mountains of Under no circumstances should probes. As it turned out, the connection to the Lake District and the North Pennines anyone approach these objects as 09 a local Scottish team wasn’t so much haven’t seen much snow this winter but, if the devices are known to be input to the training as a real incident. next winter sees the return of wind-blown extremely volatile and could cause ‘We’d had a challenging Saturday on snow features, high avalanche risks and serious injury.’ hard ice on paths for weeks on end, the Main shot: Man and dog hide out in a snow hole rescue teams will be well prepared with Team training during winter training in Scotland © Andy McAlea, the skills, expertise and equipment to Patterdale MRT. Top right: Snowy call-out as team come to the aid of anyone in difficulties. members rescue motorists stranded in their vehicles for winter conditions in West Cumbria © Wasdale MRT. Incident LOG

A CRACKING EXPERIENCE: PROFESSIONAL WRITER 10 SHEILA BOWKER DESCRIBES HER EXPERIENCE AT THE RECEIVING END OF MOUNTAIN RESCUE

We’d stood a while, admiring had sneakily turned the hard, left with my thoughts of how this warrant such excitement. Rather, person would go to such lengths for was almost bearable (thanks to the of the Land Rover and John, still Top left: Sheila Bowker. Cautley Holme Beck as it frosty grass into damp, slippy sort of thing couldn’t be the burly guys and girls from me, a stranger. tablets) so, feeling rather diligent and caring, crouched in Above: Kirkby Stephen team members carry cascaded down the high, grass, and, whoosh, my right happening to me — I wasn’t Kirkby Stephen MRT would be As Fraser assessed my situation ungrateful, I refused every offering. beside me. Jason drove us down Sheila down on the vertical camber in the series of foot slipped and shot up in the long out of nappies before I scrambled instead. and ensured I was as warm and It turned out that all their call-outs and apologised for every bit of stretcher © David Stewart. stepped waterfalls known as air, leaving me no option but to climbed my first mountain — Luck comes in doses comfy as possible, another larger so far this year had been false unsteady movement and, as we This article first appeared Cautley Spout. We were well fall ‘down the Spout’. although I admit most of the way sometimes and it was a joy to speck was approaching in the form alarms of some type, so they were inevitably slid through streams and in Cumbria Magazine, togged up against the frosty It all happened so quickly. I sat on my Dad’s shoulders. see four walkers coming up the of a mountain rescue Land Rover. relishing having a real casualty to bumped over rocks, the lovely man October 2012. conditions, and had Back and bottom hit the ground Waves of embarrassment, hill towards us. My painful It got as far up the hill as possible fuss over. After my third ‘no, thank was constantly saying ‘sorry’. manoeuvred round the frozen with a thump, my left leg humiliation and disablement expression told the story, and before disgorging its numerous you’, the lady rescuer looked at the Progress smoothed when we puddles littering the path before somewhere underneath. First washed through me, constantly yes, they had a pack of pain- occupants. They were all wearing heavens and said, ‘Come on guys, reached the lane, where an NHS the climb up to the Spout had concern was for the SLR camera interrupted by the excruciating killing anti-inflammatories, which red jackets so it seemed like the she’s a woman’, to which I ambulance was waiting. Extricated really got going. It was I’d been carrying round my neck, pain coming from my left ankle. certainly took the edge off the hillside was swarming with post responded, ‘Exactly, we’re women, from the Land Rover, I was freed cloudless, and the low-slung as it hit the ground half a second With the wonders of the pain. boxes all moving in my direction. we cope!’ They laughed, but you from my bondage and said sun had unseasonal warmth as after me. But, as a pain in my mobile, ‘Help’ was fairly easily The wait for ‘Help’ seemed Then they were all round me; if I’d could tell they were expecting ‘goodbye and a million thanks’ to it peeped round the shoulder of left leg accelerated alarmingly, I summoned, grid references ages, but it was probably no had a letter to post I wouldn’t have further feminine grumbles about what now felt like a bunch of great Cautley Crag. Being a Saturday, realised something else might agreed, details of my injuries more than an hour before a known which one to use! which gender does the childbirth buddies. The ambulance took me we’d anticipated sharing this also be broken. Aagh, so that supplied, and when I overheard speck appeared, down in the John took charge with just the thing. to hospital where x-rays proved the stunning landscape with others. was the crack I heard. that, ‘yes, there is a reasonably distance. We watched it right quantity of kindly-spoken Next came the bondage, as I was fibula was indeed broken so, for the But we were alone, and had We made a couple of very level area just below us’, I gradually transform into a guy assertiveness that one obeyed gently man-handled into a cosy first time in my life, I was in plaster just spoken about the surprise painful attempts at getting me thought wow, my dreams of a riding a mountain bike, till the without question, even putting on green snuggle suit which, topped and stumbling around on crutches. of having it to ourselves when, upright, but keeping me upright helicopter ride were about to gradient steepened and bike my hideous red speckled bobble- with my red speckled bobble-hat, The Westmorland Gazette later seconds later, we’d have given and walking proved out of the come true. I would have faked a riding was no longer an option. hat when he reminded me how made me look like a reclining described me as an ‘experienced, When we saw him drop the bike much body heat escapes through Christmas tree. Then my bad leg well equipped walker’, so all those and begin running the last few our heads. There were fourteen strapped to the good one, arms years on my Dad’s shoulders had ...it seemed like the hillside was swarming hundred yards, we knew ‘Help’ chaps and one lady in the team, strapped to my sides, I was paid off! with post boxes all moving in my direction. Then had arrived in the form of Fraser, and all attentive beyond belief. Each strapped onto a stretcher. I can honestly say those fourteen a team member who lived just one had a specific responsibility, so With four either side, they began team members were kindness and they were all round me; if I’d had a letter to post over the next hill. Puffing like the chap in charge of pain-killing tobogganing me down the grassy caring to a fault and totally I wouldn’t have known which one to use. Thomas the Tank Engine, sweat tablets asked if I’d like some, the slope, amidst jokes of letting go professional in all they did. And the coursing down his face, Fraser one carrying the cylinder of oxygen and seeing who reaches the bottom camera still works, thank anything to be surrounded by question. There was no choice coma at the very minimum to appeared in more discomfort asked would I like some of that, first. When they came to rocks or goodness! hoards of helpful walkers. For, but to stay put and shout ‘Help!’ fulfil the dream, but ‘Help’ than me until he got his breath and a third asked if I’d like another uneven ground, they lifted the as we set off back down the into the mobile phone. decided a suspected leg fracture back. Such gallantry, I felt jacket. I wasn’t cold (thanks to the stretcher and carried me. I was grassy slope, the warming sun A signal was sought and I was wasn’t serious enough to completely humbled that another hideous bobble-hat) and the pain hoisted in through the back doors

RESCUERS IN FOUR-HOUR MISSION at this point that this was going to be an interesting one, made more interesting when, during our scramble approach, one team TO FREE DOG STUCK IN 80-FOOT member dislodged two boulders, trapping his leg! CREVICE ON SNOWDON: OCTOBER ‘Chip was stuck in the bottom of a deep rock crevice, which 11 was extremely narrow and halfway up a steep crag. We rigged a A Llanberis team member spent more than two hours in the belay and dropped ropes down the crevice and one team member 80ft rock crevice in a delicate mission to rescue Chip, a fallen was volunteered as the skinniest build and lowered into the slot. sheepdog who had gone missing as he was bringing sheep About halfway down he became wedged, so was pulled out – down from the mountain. Half a dozen team members made much to his relief! ‘She then spent another hour wriggling and worming her way their way up Clogwyn Mawr with the farmer, to where Chip had ‘The next volunteer was slight and lithe. She reached the same down to within a metre of the bottom, where she cleverly last been seen two days earlier. spot before concluding that some cunning was required. A managed to clip the dog and they were both hauled to safety.’ Rob Johnson explains: ‘As we approached the crag, the climber’s clip stick (a long pole with a clip on the end), was duly Miraculously, Chip was unhurt and walked off the mountain farmer could hear whining from within the mountain. We knew delivered within an hour or so – with our team member still in the with the rescuers. narrow slot. Photos © John Grisdale. Representatives of mountain and cave rescue teams from across England and Wales travelled to Westminster at the end of October. It was a unique opportunity to 12 talk to MPs and Lords about the work of the 57 teams and the national body, with an emphasis on its voluntary ROSSENDALE & PENDLE nature. Over five days, they met with over 80 MPs and members of the House of Lords. MP JOINS EXERCISE ON

PENDLE HILL: JUNE NEWS LOG

Chairman David Allan was one of are the extra emergency service that Andrew Stephenson MP joined those in . ‘We focused on two key not only residents rely on but also all the Rossendale and Pendle team messages: the breadth of what we are visitors that we get across Kinder. members in June for a training asked to do and the funding gap with Without the mountain rescue, we really exercise on their legendary hill. similar services,’ he said. ‘We were would be struggling. The scenario was that a group of encouraged by the level of interest, the David Amess, MP for Southend West, three teenagers with an adult had obvious support and the understanding agrees. ‘I thoroughly admire the courage, been walking up Pendle when one of our current status as volunteers dedication and commitment of the of them slipped and heard a crack providing a vital service. For the future, rescue service in assisting desperate in their ankle. we need to clarify the next steps in our people in the mountains. It is important campaign to achieve regular and to acknowledge how they put their lives significant funding from the Government at risk for the safety of others,’ he said. and we need to maintain and build on ‘Volunteer rescuers, about 3,600 of the contacts and relationships that them in England and Wales, are available have been established in Westminster.’ 24/7 throughout the year,’ said Mike The MREW exhibition ran in the Upper France, MREW fundraising chairman. ‘And Waiting Hall in the Palace of Westminster they have to train for many different from Monday to Friday and a reception, situations and needs. So it seems crazy sponsored by Rory Stewart OBE, MP for that they also have to find time for Penrith and the Border and leader of fundraising just to keep their teams going. the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) We’re hoping that the week’s discussions on Rescue Services, held on the Tuesday in Westminster will have shown MPs the evening, attracted about 50 people huge discrepancy between the from both Houses including some who financial support given by Government were new to MREW. to Scottish rescuers — about £16,480 Very soon, handler Steve ‘I believe this was an important event per team — and the much more Garafalo and search dog Finn had for Parliament because mountain rescue limited funding to English teams of just located the group, one with a lower represents one of the very solid examples £2,246 per team.’ leg injury, another reported to be in the country of volunteers, people ‘If the Government could guarantee ‘mildly hypothermic’. The MP unpaid doing something which is a level of funding from the public purse acted as scribe, filling out the completely vital to the public interest,’ closer to the Scottish figure, we’d be casualty cards with the necessary said Rory. ‘To get nearly fifty MPs to a able to underwrite investments in vehicles details before assisting with some reception, meeting mountain rescue and essential kit and subsidise essential hands-on stretcher carrying. people, is going to be very important in training and insurance and our members ‘I was delighted to join the changing perceptions of what volunteers would be able to focus on getting the exercise,’ said Andrew. ‘I was do for us in society.’ job done.’ hugely impressed by the skill and Rory had invited Prime Minister David ‘We have great support from those expertise of all the team members Cameron to attend the reception and, MPs local to teams,’ said David Allan, and delighted to offer my support although unable to do so, he wrote in ‘and the reception enabled us to and personal thanks to team reply that ‘the work carried out by the extend this knowledge and support members for the fantastic work volunteers and everyone involved in this throughout Parliament. Since then, we they do.’ service is immensely worthy of praise have been working with Rory and the 13

Richard Warren (LDSAMRA), Mike France (MREW) and Jon Whiteley (Devon Cave Rescue) take a well-earned break from ‘talking rescue’ at Westminster © Richard Warren. and recognition.’ APPG to move this campaign on and Andrew Bingham, MP for High Peak explore the options for future funding. It Above: Stephen Garafalo and Finn with Andrew Stephenson MP © Rossendale and based in Buxton and so one of the is likely to be a long process but the & Pendle MRT. MPs with a closer existing connection to news coverage generated by the week local teams, was delighted to be able in Westminster and the network that is Mountain and cave to support mountain rescue because being built up should all help in our rescue at Westminster they ‘do such a fantastic job. They really campaign.’ The future could be drone-shaped, thanks to a pioneering TEAM LEADER RUNS project undertaken by the University of Central COAST TO COAST IN Lancashire (UCLan) Aerospace Centre and the Media

THREE DAYS FOR HIS News LOG Innovation Studio, with help from mountain rescue TEAM: APRIL team members in Patterdale. The aim was to see how modern drone technology, combined with social If ever demonstration were media, might contribute to search and rescue. required, that team members put their hearts and souls – and sometimes blood, sweat and tears During June, ahead of the big day of His colleague in the School of – into their mountain rescue the trial, the team at UCLan had been Computing, Engineering and Physical commitment, Upper Wharfedale’s recruiting volunteer observers online Sciences, Dr Darren Ansell, agreed. Andy Jackson provided it by and had a network of over 350 spotters ‘The design for the AeroSee system — completing the 192-mile Coast to from across the globe, keen to combining the flying vehicle with the participate in the experiment from their power of an online community — proved own computers via social media. to be a really effective and elegant On 25 July, the AeroSee aircraft, or solution.’ drone, was launched from the Sports The Patterdale team and others Field in Glenridding near Ullswater and involved in search and rescue were made a 20-minute flight covering ten interested to see how AeroSee worked square kilometres in search of a missing and whether it was possible to build a hiker, planted by the researchers. Images community of ‘virtual search agents’. from AeroSee’s cameras were relayed Patterdale team leader, Mike Blakey to anyone who had logged on to the said, ‘Mountain rescue is changing as special web application. new technology is available, from GPS As images were streamed to people’s and mobile phones for people visiting computers, they were able to tap or the hills to the SARCALL system that click on any area of the image, enables us to work more effectively with creating a ‘tag’ where they thought other emergency services. The idea of they might have spotted an injured getting people to help with the rescue Andy Jackson runs coast to coast © Rachel Platt. person on the mountainside. operation wherever they are in the world At the time, Paul Egglestone, Director is really interesting but I’m not sure how Coast route in less than three of the Media Innovation Studio said, reliable the current drones might be in days, to raise cash for his team. ‘Drones get lots of bad press as they’re bad weather or at night. Still, we were He arrived at Robin Hood’s Bay happy to work with UCLan on the having traversed three national The idea of getting demonstration and mountain rescue parks on a trip that normally takes people to help with got some excellent publicity from the two weeks to complete. Having drone trial too.’ set off from St Bees on the Cumbrian the rescue operation Since the trial, the project’s combination coast at 3am on the Saturday, he wherever they are in of aerospace engineering and online arrived at the North Sea less than the world is really cooperation has continued at UCLan two days and 20 hours later – just interesting... and the AeroSee is one of 76 nominations 2.5 hours after his scheduled time. for the Design Museum’s prestigious Andy is a keen ultrarunner who Design of the Year 2014 Awards. The has previously taken part in the usually associated with civilian casualties drone is being showcased as part of an Ultra-Trail du Mont Blanc as well in military situations. They’re just a tool exhibition at the Design Museum until as the Fellsman, Bob Graham and we’re using AeroSee for peaceful the end of August 2014 and the winners Round and Lakeland 50. He was purposes, encouraging people to of each category in the awards will be Upper Wharfedale’s underground participate in something that could be announced later this year. useful in future.’ leader for thirteen years and is currently surface leader. 15 Drone hovers over Patterdale team vehicle © Patterdale MRT. Demands on the team have grown so much in recent years, they need to expand their beloved HQ, The Hut, in Grassington so Andy’s Herculean effort will go Drones bring‘crowd’ some way towards realising that. insight to the rescue A familiar sight to rescuers and casualties alike is set to change, with the phasing out of the , which has been used in a search and rescue role since 16 1996, by both the RAF and the . For as many years, mountain rescue teams have worked and trained with RAF crew, including our own Royal patron, recently retired from his role as RAF helicopter pilot.

The SAR squadrons currently provide possible time. And, frequently, the Sea year-round 24-hour cover across the King crew will assist in ferrying team UK, with each squadron maintaining a members up to a high incident site, 15-minutes readiness state during the sooner for them to deliver the RAF CALL ON NEWSAR daylight hours and a 45-minutes appropriate medical care, package TRAINEE FOR HELP IN readiness state during the hours of the casualty onto a stretcher and darkness. The presence of a Sea King carry them to a suitable spot for SEA RESCUE: MARCH at a mountain incident can make the winching into the helicopter. difference between life or death for a The beauty of the Sea King is its casualty, transferring the injured person ability to operate to precise navigational All team members know from from mountain to hospital in the fastest standards, even during darkness and experience that training plans can difficult weather conditions, and its quickly change ‘on the hoof’ – winching capability. The SAR fleet are never more so than when training Incident LOG also fitted with video/infrared detection, with helicopters, if crews get called similar to the equipment used by police to respond to an emergency. But helicopters, to help search for casualties one North East Wales team trainee and crews are trained to operate using got rather more helicopter training night-vision goggles over unfamiliar than he’d bargained for earlier this terrain. year, when he found himself roped So what happens next? In future, into a rather unusual rescue. search and rescue helicopters will be Trainee team members were operated by Bristow, wearing the HM attending RAF Valley to receive Coastguard livery, and a huge amount winch training when 22 Squadron of activity is currently underway at Bristow got a call-out for a ‘wet job’. and the MCA, towards a ‘go-live’ date Crew members asked if there was for the first base of April 2015. The a doctor with the team. Without proposed new aircraft will be the hesitation, Dr Tom Beach (pictured Sikorsky S92 and the Agusta Westland above, left) donned a flight suit AW189, positioned at ten strategic and helmet and headed to the Sea new bases across the UK. Needless to say, members of King. Then it was off to a cargo Mountain Rescue England and Wales ship somewhere in the to are also working hard with the Maritime respond to the call for help. Coastguard Agency (MCA) to ensure It became clear the call-out was that the changeover can be as to a gentleman in his 50s who’d seamless as possible for teams and experienced a seizure earlier that the mountain casualty continues to morning. Landing on the ship’s receive the best possible care. helipad, Tom and the paramedic winchman were escorted below

Main shot: Paul Taylor and Toby the Springer decks to the medical bay. The dropped off on Bleaklow © Dave Morgan. patient was fortunately relatively Inset: Winchman and stretcher are hoisted back up stable and he was removed to the 17 to the hovering Sea King © Keswick MRT. Sea King for a rapid evacuation to Top right: NEWSAR Trainee, Dr Tom Beach (left) hospital. A 30-minute flight later, returns to base with the RAF paramedic winchman © NEWSAR. he was delivered safely to hospital. Move over RNLI, Farewell to the mountain rescue is branching out! ‘big yellow budgie’ Photo © Edale MRT. LUCKY ESCAPE FOR WALKERS SWEPT AWAY THROUGH CULVERT UNDER A57: FEBRUARY 2014 water LOGged Both Edale and Glossop teams were rescue assistance was called for due to the TWELVE-FOOT MR DARCY called out in early February, to help the difficulty of access and recovery. One lady in RESCUED FROM A CHESHIRE ambulance service rescue two members of her fifties suffered head, chest and back LAKE: MARCH 2014 a group of walkers from Sheffield who’d injuries, including a fractured spine in the been swept away in a moorland stream and accident and both the casualties were Team members from both the Kinder and carried through a culvert under the A57. soaking wet and suffering from Glossop mountain rescue teams were After being spat out of the culvert, the hypothermia. involved in the operation, to remove a 18 middle-aged walkers were carried some After initial treatment by ambulance twelve-foot high Mr Darcy from the lake at distance down a steep cascade before service crews and MR team medics, one Lyme Park in Cheshire. The sculpture finally coming to rest. One member of the casualty was assisted back up to the road depicted Jane Austen’s handsome romantic party then managed to make his way to the while the more seriously injured walker was hero – played by Colin Firth in the BBC Snake Inn to raise the alarm. Mountain evacuated by stretcher. adaptation of the novel in 1995 – in the memorable wet-shirt-emerging-from-the- water scene which is still firmly etched in the minds of female Firth fans everywhere. Called in by the National Trust, the Many teams are now equipping and training for swiftwater rescue (a very handy skill with the challenge for the teams was to rescue the increasing incidence of flooding across England and Wales), but when team members Pride and Prejudice character from his donned their water kit last year it wasn’t quite the job they were expecting. watery home, where he’s been since July ‘It’s great being in the team,’ said team member Steve Whitehurst. ‘There you all are sat at your 2013, the 200th anniversary year of the respective desks, tapping away at the calculator, pounding the keyboard or counting down the publication of the book. minutes till the bell goes and your GCSE students exit at speed – and then it happens: the call comes Darren Wallis, of Kinder MRT, was one of in and you’re transformed, Clark Kent to Superman: all-pupose rescue hero. And that’s just what it those involved in the rescue. ‘The water was like one Monday evening when the call came from the team leader for volunteers. turned out to be just about ankle depth and ‘We’ve rescued some strange things in the past but this was the first time we’d been asked to Mr Darcy was held down by about fourteen rescue a bed! The ‘casualty’ had been dumped over the old railway bridge into the river. Council

Photo © Cockermouth MRT. concrete blocks which were easily removed refuse collectors were unable to access it and – needless to say – it was a real eye-sore. before dismantling the scaffold frame and ‘So those of us trained as swiftwater rescuers got kitted out in our gear and, with our inflatable floating him about ten metres to the shore.’ boat, went off to rescue the bed. All in all, a successful operation, then – IN SEARCH OF ‘We floated down the river to the foot of the slope where the bed had landed and, with some except Mr Darcy now appears to have lost his A WATER BED: difficulty, managed to manouevre it on board, along with a lot of other rubbish deposited there. We trousers – whatever would Ms Austen say? APRIL 2013 carefully floated it all downstream to the men from the council who were waiting to collect it. Then it was off to the pub, another daring rescue complete.’ Photo (centre) © Paul Burke. Photos (left): Kinder MRT.

TEAM MEMBERS HEAVILY INVOLVED ACROSS ENGLAND AND WALES AS FLOOD Left: Residents in Egham, Surrey, rescued from their home, and town centre flooding in WATERS CONTINUED TO RISE: DECEMBER ONWARDS Worcester in February this year. Photos courtesy of FFC. Right: Image © RNLI.

A group of team members Six members of Wasdale reason for the long-distance demonstration that we can Overall, the North Wales explained. ‘In the case of North persistently high water levels had an 800-mile round trip MRT and two from neighbours call. ‘The team received a grant respond immediately, with Mountain Rescue Association Wales, with all six teams prompted a sustained multi- call-out in early December, Duddon and Furness made from DEFRA (the Department such a specialist group of provided team leaders to work ‘stood-up’ for the flooding agency response and a travelling to the other end of their journey through the night for Environment, Food and volunteers.’ alongside police, fire and response, ‘backfill’ cover for the constant flow of work (excuse the country to help victims of to Essex where a combination Rural Affairs), to pay for On that occasion, true to rescue, ambulance, RNLI and OVMRO mountain operations is the pun) which attracted flooding during the exceptional of storm force winds, spring specialist swiftwater rescue ‘mountain rescue form’, the Coastguard in a command provided by Llanberis and substantial media interest, with winter storms. Eight rescuers tide and low pressure put large equipment and training but this Stephen Walter, an outdoor role at police headquarters Aberglaslyn MRTs. SARA members frequently on from the Lake District made the areas of the country at risk of was on the understanding that instructor and Wasdale team during the flooding. ‘This mutual aid with different camera and in the news. journey at the request of flooding. The eight are all we made ourselves available – member for fourteen years, But what happens when the teams seamlessly supporting Incidents included the emergency authorities to be on trained in swiftwater rescue subject to local call-outs taking spent his birthday on the call- pager goes off with a ‘normal’ each other is a great success evacuation of residents by boat appreciated by certain standby as the east coast of techniques in addition the precedence – for rescues out to Essex. And, as is often call-out? John Hulse of OVMRO and a critical part of being able from flooded homes, search members of the community. In England was threatened with casualty care and other skills across the country. the case, when the tired group to provide a region-wide and rescue of casualties early April, SARA’s Wyre Forest inundation. mountain rescuers need. ‘The group was originally of rescuers finally arrived back response.’ whose boat had capsized Rescue Station was the victim The Wasdale minibus arrived told, late on Thursday, that on the Friday evening, they Meanwhile, in the South whilst travelling between flood- 19 of an unbelievable burglary in Essex at 5.00am having they were needed in Norfolk. were immediately called out to West, members of the Severn isolated areas, the delivery of and vandalism which seriously travelled down the motorway En route, the destination was a rescue closer to home, on Area Rescue Association oxygen supplies to a patient damaged two of the team’s from the Wasdale base at changed to Hull then finally to the Wast Water Screes. (SARA) were working together who relied on it for a medical Land Rovers and equipment Gosforth, Cumbria but, in the Essex, 400 miles and five and North Wales teams were with the Gloucestershire Fire condition and helping visitors including the Rapid Deployment end, their services were not a half hours’ drive from the also on standby, with Ogwen and Rescue Service, on a traveller site affected by Craft (RDC), affectionately needed and they returned north team’s base. Teams from Valley team members actively Coastguard and the RNLI Flood the floods. known as the banana boat, later that day. around the country were at the involved in the rescue of six Response Team – over several Not that the team’s continued and fuel being stolen from the Richard Warren of the scene. people from a flooded weeks of sustained flooding. support through very tough vehicles and locked boat sheds. Wasdale team explained the ‘It was a fantastic farmhouse near Harlech. Continuing heavy rain and times appears to have been A sad day indeed. Cave rescues involve cavers rescuing fellow cavers who are injured, trapped or lost. Members of the thirteen cave rescue teams in England and Wales also provide 20 invaluable support for the ‘overground’ search and rescue teams. And, often, team members respond to calls for help from much further afield or use a trip abroad to train or pass on vital skills to the local team.

Last year saw members of the build links with the cave rescue groups Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group along the way, delivering cave rescue travelling to Ethiopia, equipped with equipment to Lebanon and leading a one of the team’s newly purchased gas full rescue practice with the local Speleo DEVELOPING BETTER monitors. Previous expeditions to the Club du Liban, with the focus on rescue COMMS FOR CAVE area had experienced particularly low management and communication. levels of oxygen when exploring some In May 2013, as a direct result of new RESCUE: THE NICOLA 3 of the caves but had no way of contacts made during their travels, Emma knowing what those levels were. This and Mike — with two other members of Work continues in the testing Midlands CRO and two members of development of the Nicola radio – news LOG Gloucestershire CRG — flew to Tunisia to despite a series of setbacks and deliver a cave rescue training difficulties, not least of all the programme to the region’s fledgling often ‘unpleasant’ weather cave rescuers, with great success. conditions. Tragically, the call to foreign climes Cave rescuers currently use doesn’t always see a successful outcome. HeyPhone to communicate during In February this year, two Finnish cave rescues. Designed by John Hey, divers drowned while attempting a and introduced in 2001, the two-kilometre underwater trip between HeyPhone has greatly improved the River Plura resurgence and the communication range between the Steinugleflaget cave in Plurdal, just south surface controller and one or more of the Arctic Circle in Norway and British underground teams. Cave Rescue Council (BCRC) divers However, the Nicola System, were asked to help in attempting a developed by British caver recovery. Sadly, despite repeated attempts, it Graham Naylor and currently in its proved impossible to retrieve either Mark 3 version, has broken new body. ‘This was the second time BCRC ground by providing much of the cave divers have assisted following a functionality in software rather cave diving accident in Norway and, in than electronic circuitry. Which time round, they were able to use the recent years, they have also played a should lead to an unprecedented gas monitor extensively to monitor the major part in two extreme rescue and level of flexibility, including new levels in the twenty caves explored — recovery operations, in France and Eire,’ features such as text messaging. effectively turning the trip into an said Bill Whitehouse, BCRC chairman. Progress is being made – extended training exercise. ‘Our thoughts and sympathies are despite the occasional sense that During 2009 and 2010, Emma Porter with the friends and families of the two testing only adds more issues to and Mike Clayton from Midlands CRO, Finnish divers.’ the list – with tests both here and set off on a ‘journey of a lifetime’, in France. Weather permitting. circumnavigating the Med, crossing North Africa and the Middle East before Main shot: Rescue practice in Roueiss Cave, heading back through Europe in an Lebanon © Johnny Tawk. Inset: The mountain adventure that simply would not be and cave rescue ‘brand’ reaches the Sahara 21 possible today, and driven by a shared © Amine Zorgati. hope of all cavers: to find caverns Bottom left: Testing out the new gas monitor in measureless to man! Not content with Ethiopia © Andy Clark. Top right: Testing out the Nicola © Devon Cave Rescue. Underground just exploring, they also managed to and over there All three teams have come a businessman with a large estate injuries and was killed. deeply involved in this incident long way since their early days car, can help on occasions. Norman Incidents like these have a from the start. And, in 2009, when tobacco tins housed the first Lister, who works at Jennings profound effect on team members. Cockermouth made international aid kit, troops were rallied by a Brewery, says he’ll be allowed to Witnessing and dealing with the news, with the terrible floods that knock on the door and the use one of their lorries although it trauma of a mountain casualty swept through the town in sophisticated equipment and won’t be very comfortable for those can be difficult enough for November – an episode team vehicles we know today were just riding in the back. The few who volunteers who, unlike their members will never forget. a distant dream. Yet some things have a telephone pose no problem colleagues in the statutory Where fifty and sixty years remain very much the same – not but those who haven’t would be emergency services are less ago, enthusiasm, a love for the 22 least of all, the ‘getting wet’ bit! contacted by a knock on the door.’ accustomed to the emotional mountains and the ability to It was one evening in February, ‘Funds will have to be raised for impact of trauma on the care- contribute a bit of rope or a 1953, and a meeting in a local equipment and day-to-day running, giver – and it takes on a very flatbed truck might have got you café which changed the face of and it’s likely each team member different hue when the casualty is on the team, these days the rescue in the Cockermouth area. would have to pay a subscription. one of your own number, going joining criteria are more stringent Happy In a room full of climbers and ‘Some people express concern KENDAL: SIXTY YEARS about what some would see as as both team members and the walkers, ambulance personnel, that David and I are too young to their ‘hobby’. public expect – and receive –a Photo: Team members in operation anniversary! police officers and local farmers be exposed to potentially dangerous during the 1960s © Kendal MRT. Air crashes feature strongly in world-class professional service. and the likes of George Fisher, work but Inspector Hulley comes the teams’ history – not least of ‘Previous experience’ might now The year 2013 had Mike Nixon and Rusty to our defence saying we’d be all assisting at Lockerbie in 1988. include not just walking and a something of a party air Westmorland of the Keswick MRT useful for running messages! We seemed to be ‘somebody who quickly began a new life as a In 1983, a plane crash on the basic grasp of first aid, but the about it for three teams in (formed six years earlier) sat don’t say anything but we’re hoping liked walking and was quite mountain rescue ‘control’ truck! west side of Steeple Ridge left ability to walk, climb and sixteen-year-old John Millington to be more involved than that!’ two occupants dead and navigate in both summer and particular, celebrating handy at first aid’. Although Over the years, the teams have and his friend who were there to As they looked forward to an Kendal did benefit from proximity seen some devastating events. In Cockermouth team members winter conditions. many decades of volunteer. He remembers it well. exciting year ahead, with the to the K Shoe factory, whose 1966, the eyes of the world turned rescuing folk from the hills ‘It was these local folks who country speculating whether the outdoor group provided a number to the mining village of Aberfan and mountains – Kendal were alerted when there were newly-crowned Queen would still of members and they can even following the catastrophic collapse and Cockermouth in the incidents on the fells. Everyone be in place in sixty years, John boast Alfred Wainwright as their of a colliery spoil tip into the village Lake District both reached seems enthusiastic and there are wondered whether the newly first honorary member. and its primary school, killing offers of help from all round. fledged Cockermouth team would Cockermouth was the first 116 children and 28 adults. their sixtieth year and Rodney Twitchen has a contact at last as long... rescue team in England to have Team members operated in a Central Beacons in South the British Ropes Company and is Further south, in Kendal, a portable radios, after ‘some clever variety of roles, including radio Wales their fiftieth. The certain he can get some ropes at mountain rescue team took shape infiltration of the Civil Defence by communications. three teams cover very discount (these new nylon ropes prompted by the tragic events on members of the team’. In 2004, Kendal team members different areas of operation, are very expensive) and somebody the hills of Britain in the Easter of When it came to transport , were amongst those called out to thinks they know where they can 1952, when fifteen people died but they’ve shared ingenuity was often the keyword, help search Morecambe Bay for get a stretcher. Dr Jim Joyce thinks and many more were injured. In with flat bed trucks, coal wagons, Chinese cockle-pickers caught by surprisingly similar local doctors and chemists would those early days, the ‘call-out list’ milk floats and Jeeps called into the incoming tide. Sadly, there changes and challenges help with first aid items and he’s comprised just twelve members action. Quirks were normal. were 24 fatalities that night. since their formation. also volunteered to be medical and only two of them were Cockermouth’s Jeep required a And, for both Cockermouth and officer. available on week days. large concrete block to be fitted Central Beacons, tragedy has CENTRAL BEACONS: Ten years later, Central Beacons to the front bumper to correct a struck at the very heart of the team FIFTY YEARS team had its early beginnings as weight imbalance, but this with the tragic deaths of their Photo © Central Beacons MRT. the Merthyr Tydfil Police and Civil vehicle was replaced, in time, by leaders. In Cockermouth, the Defence MRT – the first in South a Roll’s Royce! It was sixteen accident (which also claimed the Wales. years before Kendal obtained its life of a second team member) helped bring the bodies down. In In sixty years then, much has Sixty years on from her first vehicle: an ex-WD signals occurred during a training exercise 2009, Central Beacons attended changed but the mountains, fells coronation, the Queen does indeed truck, purchased for just £400. at Low Crag above Gatesgarth, a double air crash in which ATC and moorland are the same, the still reign and none of these early The Central Beacons team Buttermere, in June 1969. During members died. Occasionally, injuries are largely the same, and teams shows any sign of demise faced similar challenges to their a stretcher lower, a huge rock though, the outcome is happier – the dedication and enthusiasm of – far from it – so what HAS predecessors, despite being which had been holding the main when Kendal were called to a all those involved – some of changed? formed a full ten years later, with belay, broke away causing a 2-seater aircraft crashed on whom have clocked up a fair few In Cockermouth, from the six equipment begged and borrowed substantial rock fall which engulfed Ingleborough in March 2011, anniversaries themselves – rescues carried out during their from a variety of sources – the stretcher and several team both people on board were alive. remains as fierce as ever. first year, incident numbers have including one rope, a couple of members. Besides the broken limbs and This year sees a number of continued to rise, with the team first aid kits from the Civil Defence, Fourteen years later, in South lives, caused by slips and trips Peak District teams and the 23 COCKERMOUTH: dealing with 61 last year. Kendal two stretchers from the Army and Wales, tragedy struck when a on the fells, all three team have PDMRO, their regional SIXTY YEARS team now averages fifty call-outs access to Civil Defence vehicles group of scouts lost their way been involved in their share of organisation, celebrating their a year but, back then, they were a incidents involving the wider sixtieth anniversaries as Keswick, Photo: The team’s first garage, with and radio equipment. But descending Pen y Fan, wandering Eric Hargreaves, Jack Jackson, Antony little sparser – by December 1959 sometimes benefaction came onto the dangerously steep north community. In 2010, Kendal and Coniston and Langdale Rigby, Peter Chandler, Dennis Graves it was reported that the team had from unexpected sources. One east face. One boy became Cockermouth team members Ambleside push on towards their and Dave Towers © Cockermouth MRT. been called out three times during night in the 1970s, whilst the separated from the group and assisted the police in the aftermath seventy year mark, not too many the year! team was on exercise, a chap suffered an injury and Mike Ruddal of the Cumbria shootings and years from now. And who In common with fledgling teams strolled over and donated a four- set out to find and treat him but, 2012 saw both teams on standby knows, the Queen may still be in ‘Transport could be a problem. across England and Wales, wheel-drive lorry ambulance in shielding the boy from a to assist in the search operation the big chair by the time they get The police will help when they can equipment was hard-won and the which had once served at RAF spontaneous rock fall above for April Jones. Central Beacons there... and Sydney Graham, a local main criteria for joining the team Farnborough, and which very them, he suffered serious head team members, of course, were Occasionally our connection with Prince William, in his capacity as patron of Mountain Rescue England and Wales, brings added excitement. Last year, it brought 24 the rare opportunity for a number of team members, and their families, to explore a very different environment: the newly opened set of Harry Potter, at the Warner Brothers Studio in Watford.

And what was more, they were in creatures and special effects of the and gave Mike the opportunity to stun good company, with both the Duke films,’ said Simon. ‘We walked through the assembled crowd of celebrities with and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince the Great Hall and Diagon Alley, jump a few facts about the breadth of work Harry joining in the fun, casting a few on magic buses and motor bikes, ride undertaken by mountain rescue teams, spells and strolling down Diagon Alley. broomsticks, drink butter beer and prompting some fantastic words of Simon Thresher, of Calder Valley MRT knock on Harry’s front door. support from many of the guests. took his son along for the day. ‘The tour ‘We even spotted JK Rowling — and, This was our seventh year of charity was a brilliant guided journey around of course William, Kate and Harry. When polo matches and, despite torrential the original sets, props, costumes, they came into view, we positioned rain at one stage, it was once again a ourselves so our mountain rescue logos great day out and a great opportunity were on show but sadly, we weren’t to chat to people about the quite a cute as the flower girls! organisation. Thanks go to William for his ‘Still, it was a great day out — and a continued support — and, of course, to great opportunity to see the mountain Audi UK for their generous £20,000 rescue logo in a different setting — donation. although my wallet did feel a lot lighter by the time we’d visited the gift shop!’ Eleven-year-old Hermoine Crispin travelled there with her brother and sister and her Auntie Penny (MREW Treasurer, Penny Brockman), all the way from South Wales. ‘The most exciting part of the day,’ she said, ‘was seeing the Royal Family and JK Rowling. The Duchess of Cambridge filled us with a spark of light as she said hello. ‘My sister, brothers and I felt very honoured to represent mountain rescue.’

The Duchess of In May, Mike France, MREW Cambridge filled us Fundraising Chairman, and Judy with a spark of light as Whiteside, Mountain Rescue Magazine Editor, travelled to Chester as guests of she said hello. My sister, the Audi Polo Challenge. They were Opposite page: The flying Ford Anglia, Hogwarts, brother and I felt very there to watch the Royal patron gallop Harry’s bedroom under the stairs and Diagon Alley © Penny Brockman & Warner Bros Studio Tour. to victory in his third consecutive honoured to represent Inset: Harry’s first Golden snitch © Penny mountain rescue. Chester Audi Polo title. Brockman. Top: The entrance to the studio tour Following the match, Martin Sander, © Penny Brockman. Director of Audi UK, presented each Above: HRH the Duke of Cambridge looks on as charity wit a donation on behalf of Audi Mike France talks to the crowd © Judy Whiteside. 25 Days out with a difference For the past five summers, mountain and cave rescue has hosted a day that brings together children and families from four charities with a Royal connection and 26 this year the event travelled to the North East. Cleveland team and the other five teams in the region played host in and around the Cleveland team base at Great Ayton in North Yorkshire.

‘Planning for the day was underway Lunchtime back at Great Ayton was a when she was young, said, ‘If there had for over a year,’ said Cleveland’s Carl special event too, with members of the been something like this at the time, it Faulkner. ‘But we managed to arrange local emergency services joining in the would have given me something else accommodation and a wide selection fun, led by Assistant Chief Constable to think about. Thank you all of you — of activities suitable for all the different Sue Cross from North Yorkshire Police. the children have loved it.’ age groups, abilities and agilities of the There was a visit from an RAF Sea King The day ended with a hog roast and children, young people and families helicopter from Leaconfield, police dog the presentation of individual and everyone — more than 25 children and scene of crime demonstrations, a photograph souvenirs and goody-bags and young people in all — seemed to visit from the local fire and rescue to all the children and families, by Carl have a great time.’ service (complete with sirens and flashing and ACC Sue Cross. Cleveland members were supported lights, of course) and five search and And, whilst all the guests were busy on the day by members of the North of rescue dogs — who, as we all know, enjoying their fun day in the outdoors, it Tyne, Northumberland National Park, always steal any limelight. The younger was business as usual for the rescuers Scarborough and Ryedale, Swaledale, children, in particular, loved the search themselves when the call came to assist and Teesdale and Weardale teams as dogs. an injured fourteen-year-old BMX bike well as RAF Leeming MRT and SARDA. As Hannah Bemand of WellChild, said, rider in a quarry near Great Ayton. Activities included bushcraft, a visit to a ‘It’s so different for these children and Fortunately, there were plans in place to mine at Kildale and demonstrations of their families — an opportunity they will deal with such eventualities, with a search and rescue techniques, as well not get anywhere else and they’ve had number of team members on stand-by as the opportunity for the youngsters to a great day out.’ to respond at a moment’s notice. try their hand at orienteering and One of the support workers from Child This year’s event is set to take place in abseiling. Bereavement, who lost her parents South Wales, on Saturday 12 July, hosted by the region’s mountain and The obvious enjoyment and excitement of cave rescue teams. The day’s events will be based in the Upper Swansea the children, young people and their carers Valley, including Dan yr Ogof caves and and families is the best possible thanks Penwyllt caving centre as two possible possible. locations.

Who are the other charities?

Centrepoint, another of Prince illness and complex conditions. Their © David Major. William’s charities, was founded in care and support enables many 1969 by Ken Leech, vicar of St Anne’s, terminally ill children to leave hospital Soho. Concerned about the number and return home, whilst also of young people sleeping rough in the supporting their siblings and parents. West End of London, he and a group The Child Bereavement 27 Images of the day of volunteers opened up the basement Charity, another of Prince Harry’s of the church as a temporary night charities, supports families, and shelter. More than forty years later, the provides training to professionals, charity continues to campaign to give across the entire spectrum of child homeless young people a future. bereavement — both when a child of Youngsters enjoy their WellChild, one of Prince Harry’s any age dies or is dying, or when a charities, is committed to helping sick child is facing bereavement. children and their families as they deal day in the outdoors with the consequences of serious WUFRA AND UWFRA GO GLOBAL: OCTOBER Search and rescue dogs, be they air-scenting or trailing dogs, are often the first to be tasked to search for a Buckden Pike in the Yorkshire Dales, at 2,264 feet, is certainly not the best missing person or casualty and they’re often used to place to be with a badly broken leg, 28 eliminate potential search areas before the two-legged alone, with no food, drink or shelter Incident LOG searchers go in. Thanks to their sense of smell, they’re a from the elements and for something valuable resource. But what exactly is it that they’re like three to four weeks. But that was smelling when they sniff someone out or follow a trail? the plight of a dog found by a group of walkers whilst struggling against high winds and driving rain close to the summit. We all know people smell, in one way Besides body smells, footwear has a The brown Lurcher Saluki cross was or another, but scent is a complex number of inherent scents such as leather, thing, with a number of odours and fabric, glue, polish and cleaners. One on the verge of death and looked like smells characterising each individual. experiment found that the scent of a a bag of bones so the group alerted Human skin is typically around 9°C person’s foot could be detected by a the Upper Wharfedale team as soon warmer than the surrounding air at room dog only eight minutes after a rubber as they were able. temperature which creates a steady boot was worn! current of air around the body and a Not surprisingly, genetic factors and thermal plume above it. Every bit of the the food we eat — particularly foods body contributes chemical traces to such as garlic, fish and foods high in this current, including millions of skin ‘rafts’, vitamin B — also affect our scent and dead cells which carry bacteria, creating body odour. an individual’s characteristic odour. ‘Most handlers,’ says Iain Nicholson, The body needs to dissipate heat and a trailing dog handler, ‘will tell you that other by-products through the skin to their dogs can detect fear in people, survive and as his happens, scent which can be helpful when we’re looking escapes too. for a missing or injured person. A dog will naturally follow and show interest in Typically each of an injured animal and this may be due to the pheromones produced through us has around 370 fear and anxiety. bacteria on our body ‘Similarly, a dog’s behaviour towards a Eight team members set off in at any time... then person who is afraid of them will change. appalling weather conditions. Five there’s mites, yeasts, This is because the pheromones released fungi, viruses... by the person are inhaled by the dog hours later, Wufra (as he became and that ‘information’ passes to the known) was found, lucky to be alive – hypothalamus, triggering the emotions although he was skin and bone and The air-scenting dog works by detecting which drive behaviour in animals and unable to stand. the invisible cone-shaped plume left by humans.’ Team Leader Andy Jackson said, a human, working systematically back There are millions of variations in human ‘Wufra was in such an emaciated and forth across the area, towards the scent. So whether it’s an air-scenting dog, state it was a delicate operation to lift source. Handlers who work with trailing picking up the human smell from an him but we got him into a casbag and dogs will use scent articles which the unseen ‘plume’ of air, or a trailing dog onto the stretcher. The grass had missing person has worn on their upper discriminating the scent of a specific actually died where he’d been lying. body — due to the high concentration person, it’s an amazing feat they perform He was just happy to see us and be of bacteria found there — to inform and certainly not one which any human picked up and kept warm, and seemed their dog about the smell of that specific could achieve. to enjoy his trip down in the stretcher.’ person. The armpit, for example, hosts The story touched the nation’s around 2.4 million, the scalp 1.4 million ...the scent of a hearts – thanks to extensive press and the forehead around 200,000, per and TV coverage and Facebook, the Lakes handler John Leadbetter with Skye © Daryl Garfield. square centimetre! person’s foot could whole world got to hear about the Typically, each of us has in the order be detected by a dog 29

Photo: plight of this sad dog. of 370 bacteria on our body at any one only eight minutes And we’re happy to report that time but, unsurprisingly, there are other after a rubber boot Wufra is now running around on all visitors there too, such as yeasts and the four legs and very content in his new likes of the cold sore virus. And then was worn! there’s the frequent visitors: the mites, home. Despite a public appeal, Dogs and the smelly lice, fungi and ringworm and viruses As Iain concludes, ‘It demonstrates nobody came forward to claim him such as the wart virus. the capability, power and usefulness of and he was ‘adopted’ by Helen Clothes are significant, as they pick a trained canine nose in a search Coates at the Dog People Centre in human scent machine up toiletry odours and household smells. environment.’ Grassington. Equipping a team Mountain and cave rescue, whether it’s at team or member: the costs regional level or nationally, simply couldn’t continue as Teams work hard to raise the voluntary service it is, without the generosity of the sufficient funds to provide the public and our various sponsors, and the continued necessary fit-for-purpose kit for their members, including support of key manufacturers and suppliers. warm, waterproof clothing, comms equipment, bigger But what about the 3000+ team assisted in flood rescue in areas as items such as vehicles, and 30 members who, last year alone, collectively diverse as Cockermouth, Keswick and their rescue base buildings. gave an estimated 89,582 operational Carlisle, Sheffield and Gloucester, That said, the majority of team hours free of charge to their communities? Boscastle and North Yorkshire. members wear and carry a On top of this, they put in a further We’ve played a key role in major combination of essentials 515,000 non-operational hours, tending searches such as the one for April Jones, supplied by their team, and to rescue kit and team vehicles, making missing from home in Machynlleth, mid- their own gear. sure the bills are paid and fulfilling Wales, in 2012 which involved members Bear in mind that team paperwork — not to mention maintaining of 23 different teams across England members must be prepared readiness for the next shout. and Wales collaborating and coordinating to be out there for many hours Yet, despite all this — and the resources over more than a week, far — or may be called to two or Government grant (which this year, we’re from their own homes and ‘patches’. three incidents within the same happy to report, has been increased by We’ve been on hand for disasters such day, often in dreadful conditions. 25%) — they still need to put in thousands as Lockerbie and Kegworth, and the And with the clothing (and of hours just to raise sufficient funds to Grayrigg rail crash and we’ve helped dig spares), the rucksack full of keep their teams in operation. motorists out of their stranded vehicles personal first aid kit, maps and We reckon that amounts to around on the highways and byways of the UK compass, torch, headlamp 604,582 hours a year. And much of that during times of heavy snow. and batteries, notepad and is unpaid absence from their work and All of this is free of charge to the pen, radio, pager and mobile their families. casualty. And our team members’ time phone, the grand total for It’s not just mountain stuff either. The is given freely to serve their communities each team member is not far last twelve months have seen mountain — and long may that be so. So we’d shy of £2000 — which we think and cave rescue personnel called to like to say thank you to you, all our you’ll agree is a huge assist in extended flooding which hit the supporters, sponsors and fundraisers — commitment in personal and country — often in areas very far from we couldn’t do it without you! team finances. the mountains. In previous years, we’ve Stay safe, and thank you. How can you support us?

Of course, each team is responsible Go to mountain.rescue.org.uk/ shop for equipment and training for the years to for raising funds on their own patch — details of all our merchandise and how come as gifts are exempt from find your local team on the map (see to subscribe to Basecamp. inheritance tax, capital gains tax and the back cover) and then take a look at income tax, so the charity receives the our website for the relevant contact Join Basecamp — the national full value of your bequest. details — mountain.rescue.org.uk/ support group for mountain rescue in organisation/teams. England and Wales — the simplest way Give securely online through There are also a number of ways you to support all the teams. In return you mountain.rescue.org.uk/giving/online- can support nationally. will receive a ‘supporter’ badge, a donations. window sticker and a year’s subscription Read our books or buy your to our quarterly Mountain Rescue Organise an event in aid of very own miniature Land Rover. magazine. You can join through our Mountain Rescue England and Or a teddy or a badge, or a car sticker. online shop — and, you even add a Wales or join an existing one and raise Or a mug. Whatever takes your fancy. small donation to your subscription with sponsorship. You’ll be providing funds the Gold, Silver and Bronze options. You and raising awareness. It might seem choose which amount you want to pay daunting but, with lots of enthusiasm, — single membership starts at £24 per commitment and support, you will find Like many teams, Patterdale team members give up weekends, sometimes weeks, of their time to travel to Scotland (as shown here), or even further afield, to gain vital experience in avalanche conditions © Andy McAlea. year with joint membership at £42. the experience enjoyable and very 31 rewarding. Photo: Remember us in your Will! Take a look at our website for a more A gift to mountain rescue in your Will detailed guide to organising an event allows you to support our future. Legacies — mountain.rescue.org.uk/funding/ are a vital part of our funding — even a organising-events. And good luck with Food for thought... small gift can make a big difference. the fundraising! And it’s the surest way to fund the Where to find your local team

Lake District North East

Mountain Rescue: Patterdale Mountain Rescue: Teesdale & Weardale Cockermouth Penrith Cleveland Mountain + Cave Rescue: Coniston Wasdale North of Tyne Swaledale Duddon & Furness Mines Rescue: Northumberland Nat Park Search Dogs: Kendal COMRU RAF Leeming MRT SARDA England Keswick Search Dogs: Scarborough & Ryedale Kirkby Stephen Lakes District Mountain Langdale Ambleside Rescue Search Dogs LDSAMRA NESRA Yorkshire Dales

YDRP Mid Pennine Mountain + Cave Rescue: CRO Mountain Rescue: Rossendale & Pendle MPSRO Upper Wharfedale Bolton Mountain + Cave Rescue: Mountain Rescue: Bowland Pennine CRO RAF Leeming Calder Valley Search Dogs: Holme Valley SARDA England PDMRO NWMRA Peak District North Wales Mountain Rescue: Mountain Rescue: Buxton Aberdyfi Derby Aberglaslyn Edale Llanberis Glossop North East Wales SWSARA Kinder Ogwen Valley Oldham South Snowdonia Woodhead RAF Valley Cave Rescue: Cave Rescue: Derbyshire CRO North Wales CRO Search Dogs: Search Dogs: SWERA SARDA England SARDA Wales PenMaCRA Midlands

Cave Rescue: South West England Midlands CRO South Wales Mountain Rescue: Cave Rescue: South East Mountain Rescue: Cave Rescue: Avon & Somerset Mendip CR Brecon South Severn Area Gloucestershire CRG Cave Rescue: Central Beacons & Mid Wales CRT South East CRO Longtown Search Dogs: Western Beacons SARDA South Wales Peninsula

Mountain Rescue: Mountain + Cave Rescue: Dartmoor (Ashburton) Cornwall Dartmoor (Okehampton) Cave Rescue: Dartmoor (Plymouth) Devon CRO Dartmoor (Tavistock) Search Dogs: Exmoor SARDA England

In case of accident or incident requiring mountain or cave rescue assistance. Dial ‘999’. Ask for the ‘Police’, then ‘Mountain Rescue’ or ‘Cave Rescue.’

To find out more about mountain and cave rescue in England and Wales go to mountain.rescue.org.uk or caverescue.org.uk

Mountain Rescue England and Wales is a registered charity number 222596. British Cave Rescue Council is a registered charity number 1137252.