Incident reports
Page 67 of 87 · newest first
April 2021
12 incidents multiple: injured walker, gorge fall, climbing fall Highlands
Ochils Mountain Rescue Team responded to three separate incidents on Sunday during what began as a training day. The incidents included an injured walker on Dumyat who was stretcher-evacuated, a casualty who fell into a gorge near Cambusbarron who was airlifted to hospital, and a climber who fell in the Cambusbarron area and walked off the hill with assistance.
Outcome: first casualty evacuated by stretcher; second airlifted to hospital; third walked off with assistance
missing person / body recovery South West Serious incident
A 25-year-old man reported missing from Gloucester on 24 April was found deceased in the River Severn near Gloucester Docks the following morning. A multi-agency search involving police, Severn Area Rescue Association, fire and rescue, and the National Police Air Service was conducted overnight. The death is not being treated as suspicious.
Outcome: body recovered from river
wildfire Northern Ireland
A major wildfire in the Mourne Mountains started deliberately in the early hours of 23 April and covered 3.5 square kilometres. Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service, supported by numerous partner agencies including Mourne Mountain Rescue, completed firefighting operations on 25 April after mobilising over 100 firefighters and specialist equipment.
Outcome: fire extinguished after 2.5 days; no casualties reported
Injury (Mountain Biker) Highlands
A call out was made late Sunday night/early Monday morning to the Glen Tilt area for a mountain biker who sustained a leg injury. The team wishes the casualty a speedy recovery.
Outcome: Casualty treated and wished well
medical emergency / collapse Northern Ireland Serious incident
A walker collapsed on Slieve Donard between the summit and Bog of Donard col on 17 April 2021. Despite the efforts of rescue team members and medical personnel, the walker was pronounced dead at the scene. The casualty was recovered by stretcher and handed to undertakers.
Outcome: deceased at scene
child fallen from tree with head and back injuries Snowdonia Serious incident
A 10-year-old child fell approximately four metres from a tree onto rocks at Rhaeadr Bach waterfall in the Aber Valley, sustaining head and back injuries. The Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue team located the casualty after a spelling mistake in the What3Words app initially prevented ambulance access. The child was airlifted by Coastguard helicopter to Ysbyty Gwynedd hospital in Bangor.
Outcome: airlifted by helicopter to hospital
fall into river Highlands Serious incident
A 24-year-old man fell into the river at Devil's Pulpit gorge in Finnich Glen near Loch Lomond on Sunday and sustained serious injuries. Lomond Mountain Rescue Team attended and extracted him by stretcher before handing him to the Scottish Ambulance Service for transport to hospital.
Outcome: casualty packaged and extracted by stretcher, transported to hospital by ambulance
wild camper and lost walker in severe weather Snowdonia
A father drove from Cardiff to Snowdonia to assist his daughter who was wild camping in deteriorating weather conditions. Both became separated in blizzard conditions on Easter Monday; the daughter made her way safely to the A5 road whilst the father required assistance navigating down. Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue located both parties safely and reunited them at the rescue base.
Outcome: both located safely, warmed and provided with food at rescue base
Search and Rescue Highlands
Outcome: Casualties were successfully located and helped off the mountain.
injured walker Brecon Beacons Serious incident
A woman suffered suspected spinal, hip and lower back injuries after falling while walking near Lower Clyn Gwyn waterfall in the Brecon Beacons. She was treated by mountain rescue and ambulance crews, then carried by stretcher to a Coastguard helicopter which airlifted her to hospital after being unable to winch her due to local conditions.
Outcome: casualty evacuated to hospital by stretcher and helicopter
missing persons Highlands Serious incident
Two walkers died in separate incidents within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs national park within days of each other. A 33-year-old man was found deceased on Ben A'an after being reported overdue from a walk, and another walker's body was found on Ben More earlier in the week. Both searches involved significant mountain rescue effort and difficult winter conditions.
Outcome: both casualties found deceased
missing person Highlands Serious incident
A 33-year-old man was reported missing after failing to return from a hill walk overnight in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. He was discovered deceased on Ben A'an on 1 April after a search by Lomond and Killin Mountain Rescue Teams, Police Scotland, and the Coastguard. Police found no suspicious circumstances.
Outcome: body recovered
March 2021
8 incidents person in water South West
A person fell into the River Severn near Over Bridge, Gloucester late on Friday evening. Emergency services including coastguard, fire and rescue, and police were mobilised, but the casualty managed to climb out of the water unaided and was recovered from the riverbank.
Outcome: casualty recovered from riverbank
Fire/Accident Southern Uplands Serious incident
A man died after his clothing caught fire while he was working on an estate in the Lammermuir Hills. Emergency services attended the scene when the incident occurred on Monday afternoon. The individual was airlifted to a hospital but sadly passed away the following day.
Outcome: Fatality
crag-fast casualty with dogs Peak District
A man and his two dogs became crag-fast on a steep ledge in a quarry near Newhey in Rochdale during darkness. Oldham Mountain Rescue Team deployed 22 members who abseiled down and hauled all three to safety over two hours and fifteen minutes. All were uninjured and returned to their vehicle.
Outcome: man and both dogs hauled to safety uninjured, returned to vehicle
moors incident Peak District
A rescue team responded to an incident on the moors and subsequently issued a safety warning to the public. The specific details of the incident are not provided in the post excerpt, though the response prompted guidance from the rescue team.
walker fallen and crag-fast Peak District
A young woman became stuck on a ledge on Besom Hill near Oldham on Friday afternoon. As Oldham Mountain Rescue Team prepared to rescue her, the ledge gave way and she fell 35 metres down a steep shale slope. She was treated on site by multiple medical personnel and evacuated by stretcher, with hospital assessment later confirming no major injuries.
Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher, no major injuries confirmed at hospital
missing walker Peak District
A male walker became lost and disorientated on Saddleworth Moor in poor weather conditions. He was quickly spotted by a Mountain Rescue Team vehicle and was found to be cold and wet but otherwise well, making his own way home after being collected. The rescue team issued a safety reminder about carrying navigation equipment and informing others of travel plans.
Outcome: located safely, walked off uninjured
lost walkers Brecon Beacons
Two women who travelled from Gwent to visit waterfalls between Pontneddfechan and Ystradfellte became lost in the area during lockdown. A search party of over 20 volunteers from Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team, police, and rescue dog teams located and escorted them back to the car park. Both were subsequently fined by police for breaching coronavirus regulations.
Outcome: located and escorted back to car park, fined for lockdown breach
lost hillwalker Highlands
A hillwalker became disorientated while descending Am Faochagach in thick fog and was reported missing to Dundonnell Mountain Rescue Team at around 9pm. The casualty was located by search and rescue dog handlers Alison and Meg at 00.40 and was assessed, warmed up, and safely escorted back to the carpark.
Outcome: casualty located by search and rescue dogs and safely escorted off mountain
February 2021
4 incidents climber fall Peak District Serious incident
A man fell from the Trinnacle rock formation near Dovestones during strong winds and was found in a very serious condition. He was rescued by a multi-agency operation involving Oldham Mountain Rescue Team, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and the Maritime and Coastguard Agency, and was airlifted to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield.
Outcome: casualty airlifted to hospital by helicopter winch
Lost persons/Injury Peak District
Mountain Rescue teams were called out to Sliddens Moss on February 20th for two lost walkers who had become disoriented while heading towards Black Hill. One walker sustained a groin injury, but after assistance and encouragement, both individuals were safely located and returned to the rendezvous point.
Outcome: Safe recovery
rescuer fall Lake District Serious incident
A mountain rescuer fell approximately 150 metres while assisting rule-breaking campers. A fundraising campaign subsequently raised £550,000 in support.
climbers in difficulty Scotland
Two separate incidents at the Cobbler in Arrochar resulted in police intervention and mountain rescue response. The first incident on 13 February involved two inexperienced climbers who got into difficulty on ice and required rescue; both were charged with culpable and reckless conduct. A second incident on 9 February saw two men spotted on the hill at night; they were issued fixed penalties for breaching Covid travel restrictions.
Outcome: casualties located and safe; both charged with culpable and reckless conduct