Incident reports
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August 2014
1 incident missing persons Northern Ireland
A father and teenage son were rescued after becoming lost in the Mourne Mountains during a camping trip. They went missing for 13 hours after poor weather conditions caught them by surprise on Monday, but made the correct decision to pitch their tent and wait for help. Both were found exhausted and suffering from mild hypothermia but were otherwise uninjured.
Outcome: both rescued, exhausted and mildly hypothermic
January 2014
1 incident exhausted ultrarunner, hypothermia risk Southern Uplands Serious incident
Border Search and Rescue Unit assisted an exhausted 49-year-old runner competing in the Montane Spine Race ultramarathon who had activated his GPS SOS tracker after becoming depleted and at risk of hypothermia at Windy Gyle on the border ridge. A helicopter was unable to land due to poor visibility, so a team of ten volunteers hiked to the casualty's location and provided warmth and support before safely evacuating him on foot.
Outcome: casualty warmed, rewarmed and reassured with hot tea and shared body heat, then walked off the hill supported by rescue volunteers to a Land Rover
March 2013
1 incident climber fall Highlands Serious incident
A 39-year-old climber fell and died on Bidean nam Bian in Glencoe on 8 March 2013. This was the 12th mountain death in Scotland that year, prompting public debate about mountain safety and rescue services.
Outcome: fatality
January 2013
2 incidents missing person Southern Uplands Serious incident
The body of a 24-year-old student missing since Boxing Day was found by specialist search volunteers in St Margaret's Loch in Edinburgh's Holyrood Park. Police confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances. The recovery operation involved members of the Borders Underwater Search Unit, Border Search and Rescue Unit, and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team.
Outcome: body recovered
runners in severe weather conditions Southern Uplands
Eight ultra marathon runners competing in the Spine Race sought shelter in mountain refuge huts in the Cheviots during blizzard conditions on the Border Ridge. The runners wisely used the emergency shelters overnight and were escorted off the hill by Mountain Rescue the following morning without serious incident.
Outcome: sheltered overnight in refuge huts; escorted off the hill by Mountain Rescue with no casualties
August 2012
1 incident missing person Highlands
A retired hill farmer with dementia, Tom Robb, disappeared on 25 August 2012 while walking in Carron Valley, Stirlingshire, despite extensive searches by mountain rescue teams, police dogs, and a helicopter. No trace of him has been found. A memorial trail race is being organised by his family to raise funds for Alzheimer's Scotland and Ochils Mountain Rescue.
Outcome: not found despite extensive searches
July 2011
1 incident exhaustion during descent Highlands
A 23-year-old man became exhausted during the descent of Ben Lomond after proposing to his girlfriend on the summit. Lomond Mountain Rescue Team was called shortly after midnight and deployed two groups to assist the party. The casualty was given food and water and walked off the mountain with rescuers, reaching the base at 5am; the proposal was accepted.
Outcome: casualty rested and descended with assistance from mountain rescue
October 2010
1 incident Drowning/Water Rescue North East Serious incident
A teenager sadly died after difficulties while swimming beneath a waterfall in County Durham. Rescue services were called to the area following the incident, and other individuals who were in the water were reported as uninjured.
Outcome: Fatality
August 2008
1 incident fatal fall Highlands Serious incident
A 41-year-old climber fell approximately 40 metres on Slioch in Wester Ross on Sunday and was airlifted to hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival. Torridon Mountain Rescue Team and rescue helicopters from RAF Lossiemouth and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency attended the scene.
Outcome: casualty pronounced dead on arrival at hospital
August 2007
1 incident missing person Highlands Serious incident
A 26-year-old man missing for two days was found at the bottom of cliffs at Dumyat Hill in the Ochils after a passer-by heard his cries for help. He was airlifted to hospital with severe leg injuries and dehydration. He had left his home without money, bank cards or mobile phone.
Outcome: airlifted to Stirling Royal Infirmary with severe leg injuries and dehydration
January 2007
1 incident man in river Southern Uplands
A man fell into the River Tweed near Rennies Bridge in Kelso on Sunday afternoon and was rescued by firefighters with assistance from the Border Underwater Search Team and Border Search and Rescue Unit. He was taken to Borders General Hospital for treatment with injuries not thought to be serious.
Outcome: rescued and taken to hospital for treatment
June 1969
1 incident rock fall Lake District Serious incident
Cockermouth Mountain Rescue Team held a remembrance service at Low Crag, Buttermere on 15 June 2019 to honour two team members killed in a rock fall during a training exercise 50 years earlier. John Thompson died at the scene and Michael Stephenson died from his injuries the following day.
Outcome: two fatalities