Vital work of Devon rescuers showcased in new film

The Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team Ashburton has launched a film highlighting the vital community service it provides across the county and beyond.

The volunteers are well known for their work on Dartmoor but less so for the wider support they offer in both rural and urban areas across Devon and further afield. With public donations accounting for more than 92 per cent of its funding the group approached Ashburton film-makers Blinkback to help spread the message.

Team Leader Keith Lambeth said:

'Although responding to Dartmoor callouts is still our staple we also attend flooding and water incidents and missing person enquiries including those with mental health factors such as dementia and self-harm. ‘Blinkback’s film highlights this diversity which frequently goes unnoticed as our callouts often happen overnight when most people are in bed. ‘We are mobilised by the emergency services up to 40 times each year, at anytime of the day or night. Our 60 unpaid volunteers respond because they simply want to help and put something back into the community.’

The professional Mountain Rescue training the team now undertakes means the Ashburton volunteers and their counterparts across England and Wales are frequently called on for major national incidents such as the York floods of Christmas 2015.

Keith continued:

'We are very grateful to the team at Blinkback who kindly donated their time and considerable experience to produce the film. We are delighted with the end result which highlights the service we provide and will raise awareness among those who are unaware of the wide range of support we offer.’

Blinkback director David Kilkelly said:

’Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton perform such a vital roll across the region. BlinkBack is based and works within Dartmoor National Park so we have a natural connection.

‘We felt that by donating our time and skills we could help raise their profile and communicate their message to a wider audience.'

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

All video and photos are copyright and can be used to accompany this article as long as credited to 'Dartmoor Search and Rescue Ashburton'.

Film produced courtesy of Blinkback www.blinkback.co.uk