Tweed Valley MRT

Outcome: The rescue team successfully freed a cow that had become trapped at an icehouse after an 11-hour operation.

Specialist fire crews were called out to a farm near Kelso following an 11-hour operation to free a heifer that had fallen into a hidden underground Victorian icehouse. Using equipment from various rescue services and the assistance of local staff, teams managed to create enough space for the animal to climb out safely.

Outcome: The heifer was successfully rescued and is reported to be unharmed.

During routine police patrols in the Tweed Valley near Cardrona, an air rifle was seized following a public report. Later that day, officers assisted mountain rescue and ambulance services at an incident involving an injured cyclist near Innerleithen.

Outcome: Injured cyclist taken to hospital; male charged with possession of an air rifle.

A mountain bike rider sustained an injury while on Twitcher Trail at Glentress. The rescue team attended the incident in the afternoon and worked alongside ambulance services to assist the casualty off the hill for treatment.

Outcome: Transported from the scene for treatment

Mountain rescue teams were called out on Wednesday evening to assist a casualty who had sustained a lower limb injury near Neidpath Castle in Peebles. The operation required the use of a stretcher due to muddy and rough ground conditions, and the casualty was eventually taken by ambulance.

Outcome: Transported to hospital/medical attention

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue responded to two separate incidents involving cyclists at Glentress over a period of time. On September 14th, an injured mountain biker was treated and evacuated by the team alongside ambulance staff. A second incident occurred on September 18th, where the team assisted with the extraction of another injured cyclist.

Outcome: Injuries treated and evacuated

The local mountain rescue team has noted a significant increase in callouts, with approximately half involving injured mountain bikers at Glentress. The team advises riders to assess trails carefully, read all signage, and use trail grading systems appropriate for their abilities.

Outcome: No outcome specified (Ongoing concern)

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team responded to two separate incidents within six hours on 3 July 2024. The first involved an injured hillwalker above Ettrick Kirk who was evacuated by stretcher, whilst the second concerned a lost cyclist between Eddleston and Romanno Bridge who was located sheltering in a hut and assisted to safety by police and a local farmer.

Outcome: injured walker evacuated by stretcher; lost cyclist located and assisted to safety

An injured walker fell near the summit of Tinto Hill in the Southern Uplands on Saturday morning. Due to strong winds, a helicopter could not winch her directly, so she was carried to a suitable landing site and airlifted to a nearby car park. She was then transferred by ambulance to hospital for treatment.

Outcome: casualty airlifted by helicopter and taken by ambulance to hospital

A woman was injured after falling near Galashiels on Gala Hill on 7 January. Eight members of Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team assisted emergency services in getting her into an ambulance approximately one hour after the callout. She was taken to hospital for treatment.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by ambulance to hospital

Eight volunteers from Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue assisted Scottish Ambulance Service in evacuating a female casualty who had sustained an ankle injury on steep ground at Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh. The casualty was transported to New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.

Outcome: casualty evacuated to New Edinburgh Royal Infirmary

A mountain rescue team rescued an injured walker on Caerketton Hill after she broke her ankle while slipping. To reach her quickly in poor conditions, rescuers improvised by using a ski tow to ascend the hill before sledging her down the dry ski slope.

Outcome: The injured walker was safely evacuated.

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended to multiple incidents involving mountain bikers over three days in Innerleithen. The team provided initial first aid and assisted casualties to waiting ambulances following separate crashes.

Outcome: Casualties transported to hospital

A woman suffered a broken ankle after slipping on ice near the summit of Caerketton Hill in the Pentland Hills on 29 December 2020. More than 35 mountain rescue and firefighters attended in severe winter conditions with wind chill of minus 10°C. She was evacuated by helicopter after rescue teams determined that a stretcher-based descent would have taken too long.

Outcome: evacuated by helicopter, recovering from broken ankle

Moffat Mountain Rescue Team assisted 12 people stranded in vehicles on the A702 at Dalveen Pass near Durisdeer during severe snow conditions on Tuesday night. Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team also responded to a separate incident in the Borders where a vehicle had slipped off the road in blizzard conditions.

Outcome: 12 people assisted to safety overnight

Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue attended a mountain bike incident on a steep hillside near Innerleithen on Sunday afternoon. The rider sustained a leg injury in a fall and was evacuated by stretcher to the roadside before being transported to hospital.

Outcome: casualty evacuated by stretcher to roadside and taken to hospital

A teenager was reported missing after failing to return from a late-night walk near Newcastleton in the Scottish Borders. Following an extensive overnight search involving mountain rescue teams, police, and dog handlers, the young person was located by a police officer on a minor road near the village at 6am after having taken a wrong turning in the forest.

Outcome: found safe by police officer

An elderly couple aged 70 and 71 living in a remote home near West Linton became isolated when heavy snowdrifts up to 12 feet high surrounded their property. They were rescued by police officers and Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team after losing heating due to depleted firewood supplies. The couple and their two dogs were safely freed and are now staying with friends.

Outcome: couple freed safely with their two dogs, now staying with friends