Incident reports

A man became separated from companions whilst walking at Dovestones Reservoir on Christmas Day and fell into Chew Brook. He was located by police helicopter and ground officers, then assisted by Oldham Mountain Rescue Team volunteers who helped him to safety. He was assessed and transferred to hospital for further checks.

Outcome: casualty escorted to safety, assessed, and handed over to ambulance service for hospital transport

The team assisted Devon & Cornwall Police with searches for a high-risk missing person in North Devon across two callouts around Christmas. Despite extensive efforts involving multiple agencies and search dogs, both searches were ultimately inconclusive.

Outcome: Inconclusive

Rescuers were called out to assist with two sheep that had become trapped above Littletown. After initial attempts failed, the team secured the animals using spikes driven into the ground and eventually managed to bring one down safely.

Outcome: Both sheep were successfully rescued.

A 25-year-old man fell into a frozen river at Devil's Pulpit in Finnich Glen, Stirlingshire, whilst walking. After hauling himself onto a rock, he texted his family and managed to alert emergency services before losing consciousness. He was rescued by Lomond Mountain Rescue Service and treated for hypothermia.

Outcome: rescued and treated for hypothermia by Scottish Ambulance Service

Two men were rescued from the Brecon Beacons after becoming lost in severe cold conditions with snow and ice on the hillside. Both were found uninjured and were able to walk off the mountain with support from rescuers before being given warm refreshments.

Outcome: both walked off the mountain uninjured with team support

A man with hypothermia was rescued from the summit of Corn Du in the Brecon Beacons after rescue teams were called on Sunday evening. Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team located him with assistance from a search dog and police drone. He was assessed medically and safely evacuated.

Outcome: casualty evacuated safely after medical assessment

A climber in his 60s suffered a suspected broken ankle when a boulder fell on his leg while ascending Dolmen Buttress on Glyder Fach in Snowdonia. He crawled for two hours on his hands and knees to the summit with assistance, then was stretchered down and evacuated by helicopter to hospital.

Outcome: evacuated by helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd Bangor for treatment

An injured dog walker slipped on a grass slope at Dowry Reservoir in Denshaw on 30 November, injuring his knee and becoming unable to walk. Oldham Mountain Rescue Team attended with fourteen members, assessed and treated the casualty, and carried him on a stretcher to the road for transfer to ambulance care.

Outcome: casualty treated on site and evacuated by stretcher to ambulance

The team was conducting a monthly search and rescue exercise in Exmoor National Park when they were called out by Avon and Somerset Police to assist with a high-risk missing person search near Chard. Thirty team members deployed alongside colleagues from Avon & Somerset Search and Rescue, along with assistance from Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England.

Four walkers became disorientated in darkness near Threshwaite Mouth in Hartsop after not carrying torches. They were located by a group of scouts who escorted them to the valley floor, and mountain rescue volunteers assisted them back to their car at Kirkstone Pass. The incident prompted a safety reminder about winter darkness and the importance of proper equipment.

Outcome: located by scouts and escorted to safety, returned to car with mountain rescue assistance

Police and rescue teams searched the River Severn for Emily Bomken, a 39-year-old woman reported missing on 12 November 2022. Officers expressed concern for her welfare and appealed for public information to help locate her.

While responding to a callout on Exmoor National Park, the team was diverted to assist with a high-risk missing person search in the Somerset Levels. The missing individual was eventually located safe and well by the combined teams.

Outcome: Person found safe

The team was deployed with other agencies to assist an injured walker along the South West Coast Path. The ambulance crew were able to evacuate the casualty while the team was on scene.

Outcome: Evacuated

The team was called out by Avon and Somerset Police to assist with a search operation. The search concerned a high-risk missing person located in Street.

Assynt Mountain Rescue Team was called out to search for missing man David Bennett on the northern shores of Loch Assynt. The team worked alongside police, coastguard and fire service, deploying thermal imaging drone technology. The man was traced and located during the operation.

Outcome: person traced and located

A walker twisted his knee and became unable to walk after a fall just below the summit of Haystacks. Keswick and Cockermouth mountain rescue teams attended and carried the casualty down on a stretcher in a three-hour operation.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher

The team was called out by Avon and Somerset Police to assist with a search operation. The search concerned a high-risk missing person located in Yeovil.

The team was called out by the police to assist with a search for a high-risk missing person along the South West Coast Path in North Devon. The search concluded successfully when the missing individual was located safe and well en route.

Outcome: Person found safe