During 2024 the rescue team responded to 42 callouts, this is an increase of 40% on 2023, making 2024 our second busiest year on record. During the year we have worked with all three statutory emergency services, HM Coastguard, Devon Air Ambulance Trust and our sister...
Missing 16-year-old spotted entering the River Dart
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The team were called around 22:00 on Friday 5th August to assist Devon & Cornwall Police in looking for a 16 year old male reportedly entering the River Dart having shed all his clothing.
Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton volunteers were tasked to search the Staverton branch-line and various land based areas, whilst the MCA & RNLI focused on the water environments. Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service decided to wait for daylight to put boats in the water following their risk assessment, departing around 1am following searches earlier that evening. MCA personnel continued riverbank searches alongside the Police Dive Team until around 2am. DSRT Ashburton members were stood down around 05:00 having exhausted regions of woodland and field systems identified as high-probability areas.
Our team duty Search Manager said: “DSRT Ashburton covered a lot of ground overnight during the 6hr deployment, that focused on high-probability areas around the ‘point last seen’ for the teenager. Missing person behavioural analysis was less predictive in this instance, due to the reported use of new psychoactive substances (NPS); however, the areas targeted included minor roads, tracks and trails, dense woodland, steep ground, river-bank and flood-plain areas, and parts of the Totnes to Buckfastleigh branch-line. The team remains on alert to assist if required.”
Our colleagues at DSRT Plymouth took over the Dartmoor Rescue response on Saturday morning to give our volunteers a rest, following by DSRT Tavistock in the afternoon / evening..
On Sunday morning the 8th August, Polcie divers discovered a body. The next of kin have been informed in advance of an official identification
Our thoughts, prayers and condolences are with the family at this very difficult and sad time.
Mountain Rescue Teams, #morethanjustmountains
Press reports:
Grough Online: http://www.grough.co.uk/magazine/2016/08/06/dartmoor-rescue-team-volunteers-join-overnight-search-for-missing-river-teen-nathan-wood
BBC Devon: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-36993841
Torbay Herald Express: http://www.torquayheraldexpress.co.uk/major-search-of-river-dart-after-fears-boy-took-new-psychoactive-substance/story-29591855-detail/story.html
